System and method for validating download or configuration assignment for an egm or egm collection

ABSTRACT

A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify different game devices and other related activities. The slot management system includes a validator that validates assignments to modify game devices.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This invention pertains generally to management systems and methods.More particularly, the present invention relates to a computerizedmethod and system for validating an assignment to modify a gamingmachine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various networked gaming systems have been developed over the yearsbeginning at least in the 1980's. With acceptance and utilization, userssuch as casino operators have found it desirable to increase thecomputer management of their facilities and expand features available onnetworked gaming systems. For instance, there are various areas in themanagement of casinos that is very labor intensive, such asreconfiguring gaming machines, changing games on the gaming machines,and performing cash transactions for customers.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more aspects of the invention, a computerizedmethod and system for processing an assignment is provided to enablemodifying a configuration of a gaming machine.

An assignment validator for processing an assignment that modifies agaming machine may be summarized as including at least one processor; atleast one computer readable medium; and an assignment validation modulethat is stored in the at least one computer readable medium and that isconfigured, when executed by the at least one processor, to: receive afirst assignment to modify a gaming machine; determine a likelihood ofsuccess for a successful execution of the first assignment at the timeof execution of the first assignment based at least on current stateinformation; and provide a notification of the likelihood of success ata time that is prior to an execution time of the first assignment.

The assignment validation module may be further configured to determinea likelihood of success for a successful execution of the firstassignment at the time of execution of the first assignment based atleast on current state information by: determining whether a secondassignment to modify gaming machine is scheduled; and determiningwhether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the firstassignment. The assignment validation module may be further configuredto determine whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with thefirst assignment by: determining whether the first and the secondassignments are temporally spaced apart so as to not overlap when thefirst and the second assignments are respectively executed. Theassignment validation module may be further configured to: determinethat the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment inresponse to determining that the first and the second assignments arenot temporally spaced apart so as to not overlap when the first and thesecond assignments are respectively executed. The assignment validationmodule may be further configured to: estimate a completion time for whenthe first assignment and the second assignment, if any, are completed;determine whether the estimated completion time is no later than ascheduled implementation time of the gaming machine, wherein the gamingmachine may be scheduled to implement modifications based on the firstassignment and the second assignment, if any, by the scheduledimplementation time; and determine that the first assignment and thesecond assignment conflict in response to determining that the estimatedcompletion time is later than the scheduled implementation time. Theassignment validation module may be further configured to determinewhether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the firstassignment by: estimating a state of the gaming machine at a time whenthe second assignment is completed; and determining whether theestimated state of the gaming machine is a valid state for successfulcompletion of the first assignment. The assignment validation module maybe further configured to determine whether the second assignment, ifany, conflicts with the first assignment by: estimating a state of thegaming machine at a time when the first assignment is completed; anddetermining whether the estimated state of the gaming machine is a validstate for successful completion of the second assignment. The assignmentvalidator may include a display device that displays the notification ofthe likelihood of success.

A computer implemented method of processing an assignment that modifiesa gaming machine may be summarized as including, at a time that is priorto an execution time, receiving a first assignment to modify a gamingmachine; determining a likelihood of success for a successful executionof the first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignmentbased at least on current state information; and providing anotification of the likelihood of success. Determining a likelihood ofsuccess for a successful execution of the first assignment at the timeof execution of the first assignment based at least on current stateinformation may include determining whether a second assignment tomodify gaming machine is scheduled; and determining whether the secondassignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment. If there is asecond assignment, then determining whether the second assignmentconflicts with the first assignment may include determining whether thefirst and the second assignments are temporally spaced apart so as tonot overlap when the first and the second assignments are respectivelyexecuted. The computer implemented method may include determining thatthe second assignment conflicts with the first assignment in response todetermining that the first and the second assignments are not temporallyspaced apart so as to not overlap when the first and the secondassignments are respectively executed. The computer implemented methodmay include estimating a completion time for when the first assignmentand the second assignment, if any, are completed; determining whetherthe estimated completion time is no later than a scheduledimplementation time of the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machinemay be scheduled to implement modifications based on the firstassignment and the second assignment, if any, at the scheduledimplementation time; and determining that the first assignment and thesecond assignment conflict in response to determining that the estimatedcompletion time is later than the scheduled implementation time. Ifthere is a second assignment, then determining whether the secondassignment conflicts with the first assignment may include estimating astate of the gaming machine at a time when the second assignment iscompleted; and determining whether the estimated state of the gamingmachine is a valid state for successful completion of the firstassignment. If there is a second assignment, then determining whetherthe second assignment conflicts with the first assignment may includeestimating a state of the gaming machine at a time when the firstassignment is completed; and determining whether the estimated state ofthe gaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of thesecond assignment.

Further aspects, features and advantages of various embodiments of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, takenin conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gaming environment according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are screen prints of a scheduler panel presenting agraphical display of download and configuration jobs scheduled in agaming system according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a download and configuration context diagram according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a download and configuration network diagram according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a download and configuration network diagram according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 4 is flow diagram of a process of networked component discoverythat may be utilized by a gaming network according to one nonlimitingembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of a notification process within a client-serverarchitecture system with multiple clients according to one nonlimitingembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a notification process within a client-serverarchitecture system with multiple clients according to one nonlimitingembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic of a DCM server incorporating a UDP BroadcastProcessor function according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a process for registering a client with a DCM Engine accordingto one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a process for a DCM engine to provide notifications to clientsaccording to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 10 a process for deregistering a client from a DCM engine accordingto one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a context diagram of associational relationships for acollection of gaming machines according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a portion of a download and configurationsystem that provides progress that is displayed to clients according toone nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic of a gaming environment according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 14A is a graph of a volume profile according to one nonlimitingembodiment.

FIG. 14B is a graph of a minimum bet profile according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of a process flow for generating gamingmachine performance tables according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic of a command and control server in a gamingenvironment according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a process for creating a meta-optionaccording to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a look-up table definition schema according toone nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic of a networked system including a DCM engine(server) according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic of a networked system including a DCM engine(server) recovering from a power failure according to one nonlimitingembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a screen print showing a graphical user interface (GUI)display panel of an assignment-creator/modifier program according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a screen print showing a graphical user interface (GUI)display panel of an assignment-creator/modifier program according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a screen print showing a graphical user interface (GUI)display panel of an assignment-creator/modifier program according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a screen print showing a graphical user interface (GUI)display panel of an assignment-creator/modifier program according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a screen print showing a graphical user interface (GUI)display panel of an assignment-creator/modifier program according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 26A is a flow diagram of a procedure for creating and implementinga bundle assignment according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 26B is a window of an assignment-bundle graphical user interfaceaccording to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a schematic of a networked gaming system including a DCMengine including a User Authorization Web Service according to onenonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 28 illustrates a process flow of a networked gaming systemincluding a DCM engine including a User Authorization Web Serviceaccording to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a scheduler service in a gaming networkaccording to one nonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a user interface download web service in agaming network according to one nonlimiting embodiment.

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elementsor acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of variouselements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elementsare arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are notintended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of theparticular elements, and have been solely selected for ease ofrecognition in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures associated with servers, networks,displays, and/or with computer type devices have not been shown ordescribed in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of theembodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, suchas, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open,inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the contentclearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or”is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the contentclearly dictates otherwise.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theembodiments.

Any process descriptions or blocks in flowcharts described below may beunderstood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code whichinclude one or more executable instructions for implementing specificlogical functions. In alternative embodiments, various logicalfunctions, or acts may be executed out of order from that shown ordiscussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order,and/or manually, depending on the functionality involved, as would beunderstood by those reasonably skilled in the art.

Various embodiments are directed to a networked gaming system includingone or more download and configuration management servers, one or moregame and player monitoring components, and at least one user controlstation enabling the monitoring and modification of networked gamingmachines. The embodiments are illustrated and described herein, by wayof example only, and not by way of limitation. Referring now to thedrawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-31, there are shownillustrative examples of various GUI displays which may be generated ona user control stations to monitor and modify game and player activity,gaming networks including one or more user control stations withdownload and configuration features, and methods associated therewith,in accordance with various aspects of the invention.

Game-Entertainment Environment

FIG. 1 shows game-entertainment environment 100 according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment. The game-entertainment environment100 may include a front end 102 and a back end 104. Thegame-entertainment environment 100 may be a casino or other gamingenvironment. For the sake of clarity, the game-entertainment environment100 is described below as a casino, but the game-entertainmentenvironment 100 is not limited as such.

The front end 102 includes a casino floor 106 having a number of gamestations 108. Each one of the gaming stations 108 may include at leastone electronic gaming machine (EGM) 110 and at least one table gamingapparatus 112. EGMs 110 may electronically provide various games ofchance and/or skill. Non-exhaustive and non-limiting examples of theEGMs 110 include slot machines, pachinko machines, video lotteryterminals, video poker terminals, bingo machines, lotto machines, videokeno terminals, video roulette terminals, video blackjack terminals,multi-game machines, arcade games, and so forth.

Table gaming apparatus 112 may include at least one electronic device114 and a playing surface 116 on which various games of chance and/or ofskill that may be played such as, but not limited to poker, blackjack,baccarat, roulette, keno, etc. Among other things, the device 114 may beadapted to provide information to casino personnel and/or to players. Inone embodiment, the device 114 may be used by a player to place wagers.In one embodiment, the device 114 may be used in a system to providebonuses to a player, where a bonus is an item, credit, good, or servicethat is provided in addition to payouts for successful wagers placed bythe player. In one embodiment, the device 114 may be reconfigurable suchthat the device 114 operates in a post-reconfiguration mode that isdifferent from a pre-reconfiguration mode.

In some embodiments, the EGMs 110 include disparate gaming machines,such as but not limited to: gaming machines that each play differentgames (e.g., slot machines, bingo, etc.), gaming machines made bydifferent manufacturers, gaming machines that play the same game but areof different versions/models by the same manufacturer, or any other EGMs110 that may have similarities and differences as compared to other onesof the EGMs 110. Moreover in one embodiment, machines or devices 114alternatively or additionally to the EGMs 110 can be provided withconfiguration changes. Examples of such machines/devices can include,but not be limited to, player interface unit 310 such as an iViewdisplays, signage displays, kiosks, audio systems, and so forth.

According to one embodiment, the back end 104 includes a casino systemcontroller 118 that is communicatively coupled to the devices 114 andthe EGMs 110 of the game stations 108 by a network 120. The network 120can include wired and/or wireless communication links. Examples of thenetwork 106 can include a local area network (LAN), virtual privatenetwork (VPN), an Internet connection, and/or any other networkconfiguration that is capable to enable the casino system controller 118to communicate with the EGMs 110 and the devices 114. The network 120may provide two-way communications between the front end 102 components,e.g., devices 114 and EGMs 110, and the casino system controller 118.

According to one embodiment, the back end 104 also includes a database122 that is communicatively coupled to the casino system controller 118.The database 122 may include modules, software routines, structuredlogic, structured data, etc., which, when executed by the casino systemcontroller 118 enable the casino system controller 118 to, among otherthings, apply business logic in scheduling, controlling and monitoringthe casino floor 106 and/or configuring/reconfiguring EGMs 110 and/ordevices 114 and/or controlling and monitoring downloads to the EGMs 110and/or devices 114.

Scheduler Panel

Referring to FIG. 2A, a window or screen, scheduler panel, 200 is shownthat presents a graphical display of download and configurationassignments scheduled in a gaming system, such as may be displayed at auser control station (also referred to as a Control Panel herein) inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

The scheduler panel 200 may be implemented as a GUI (graphical userinterface) which may be integrated with a Control Panel, such as a BallyTechnologies Control Panel, which may include a display, keyboard, andmouse for use by a casino operator. The scheduler panel 200 provides aneasy, intuitive way for operators to view, monitor status and manipulateassignment such as download jobs and configuration jobs. Each assignmentmay be presented on a timeline showing the start of the assignment.There may be a vertical bar, which may be any color such as lime-green,indicating the current time as a reference. The entire content can bescrolled in any direction, however when scrolling vertically, the headershowing the dates and hours remain visible, and in some embodiments, thedates and hours may always remain visible.

The Toolbar

Operating similarly to conventional toolbars, such as those provided ina Microsoft Windows Operating System, a toolbar 202 of the schedulerpanel 200 may include filters 204 and a cancel assignment button 206. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, the scheduler panel 200 includesthree filters 204: Zoom, Date Range, and Assignment Status:

-   -   Zoom—Controls how much detail may be shown on the timeline.        Typical choices include; Hour, Day and Week view;    -   Date Range—Allows user to specify how much time before and after        the current time, data should be displayed. Typical choices        include; Today Only, Plus or Minus One Day, Plus or Minus One        Week, Plus or Minus One Month. The user may use a report look at        activity in the past outside of this range;    -   Assignment Status—Allow the user to only show assignments        matching specified status criteria. Anticipated Typical choices        include; All, Active, Running, Pending

Cancel Assignments—The user selects assignments that have not yet beencompleted, and cancel them using the cancel button 206.

Assignments

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, the scheduler panel 200 showsa plurality of assignments 208. Each one of the assignments 208 may becolor coded to indicate a respective status, such as green, amber, andred. The assignments 208 may be represented by an icon 210. The icon 210of one of the assignments 208 may be associated with a type of job suchas a download job or a configuration job and may be the same icon usedin other GUI interfaces such as in an assignment navigator.

The scheduler panel 200 may show various assignments 208 as a graphicbar 222. A title 212 may be derived from a name of a respectiveassignment 208. A start time may be indicated by a vertical black bar214 on the left that may have a diamond ending. If an assignment is anoverride assignment 216, then a horizontal line 218, which extends fromthe left side vertical bar 214 to a right side vertical bar 220,indicates an amount of time that an override is in effect, i.e., theoverride duration. The right side vertical bar 220 may have a seconddiamond ending.

Referring to FIG. 2B, an exemplary three hour configuration overrideassignment 216 is shown. If the override assignment 216 results in anerror, an assignment graphic bar may be displayed to indicate that therewas an error. The assignment graphic bar and/or the icon may flash orblink or have a specific color such as red to indicate the occurrence ofthe error. If the assignment is in progress, then a progress bar (notshown) may also be shown to show the percentage of completion of theassignment and the time elapsed. If the assignment is on time, then theprogress bar may be green, if it is a little late, then it may be amber,and if the assignment is either stopped incomplete or a delay has causeda conflict with another assignment bar, then the progress bar may bered, may flash, and may display a warning message to alert a user.

Hovering a mouse cursor over an assignment 208 may bring up a tool tip220 with additional details, as shown in FIG. 2A. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, the tool tip 220 includes additional details such as astart time which may include date and time (e.g., Jun. 3, 2007),override duration (e.g., 3 hours), type of job (e.g., configuration) andstatus (e.g., running). In some embodiments, there may be more detail inthe tooltip than shown in this screen shot, such as progress ofparticular gaming machines associated with the assignment. In the eventthat some EGMs 110 have completed the assignment or some have not, thisinformation may be obtained by clicking the assignment graphic bar toobtain a summary of the status of the EGMs affected.

Linked Assignments

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the scheduler panel 200 showsrecurring assignments 224. Temporally sequential assignments 224 arelinked by a recurrence indicator 226. Each recurrence indicator 226links the previous assignment 244 with the next occurrence theassignment 244.

Multi-Job Assignments

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the scheduler panel 200 showsmulti-job assignment 228 starting at about 3:30 am on Monday. Themulti-job assignment 228 represents an assignment that was set up to runtwo jobs in sequence such as two downloads. However, the multi-jobassignment 228 may be a download followed by a configuration, or anycombination of two or more jobs.

In some embodiments, assignments may be changed so that they scheduleone or more jobs describing what to do. In that case, configuration ordownload instructions about what to configuration or download may beshared at different times or for different EGMs 110 such that theinstruction don't need to be re-entered.

In some embodiments, double-clicking on icon 210 or opening anassignment may open a detail window with a view similar to the tooltip222, and the detail window may be focused only on an assignment inquestion. The detail window may show the individual status for each EGM110 and in the case of configurations, for each option. Two or more ofthese may be opened at once to aid in comparing results.

Coding

Assignments 208 which include override assignment 216, recurringassignments 224 and multi-job assignments 228 are displayed at locationsin the scheduler panel 200 so as to keep the display of the assignments208 compact while at the same time avoiding overlaps. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2A, all recurring assignments 224 scheduled during atime period of interest may be displayed near the top and may behorizontally aligned. Then each one of the recurring assignments 224during the time period of interest may be taken in start time order anddisplayed beginning at the top left corner. Initially, each onerecurring assignments 224 during the time period of interest may bedisplayed one row below the ones already displayed until the start timehas shifted forward far enough that it can be drawn in a new columnwithout overwriting the previous ones. At this point, the current rowmay be reset to the top and this may be repeated for each subsequentones of the recurring assignments 224 during the time period ofinterest.

In some embodiments, a displayed assignment 208 may also include one ormore ‘progress’ indicators that may show how much of the job hascompleted. Because a ‘job’ could involve more than one EGM 110, thepercentage shown may be the average percent complete for all EGMs, orthe percent complete for the one that is least complete (in order togive operator some idea of how much longer it will take to complete thejob), or some other useful measure of completion. The scheduler panel200 may also provide some readily apparent indicator that an assignmenthas encountered a kind of error. The error indicator may be clicked onthat indicator to see details of the error, such as identify one or moreEGMs (gaming machines) that have been unable to receive or haveencountered delays in receiving a download or reconfiguration or haverefused the download or reconfiguration because of an incompatibilityissue.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, an exemplary gaming network 300, whichmay be used in the environment of the casino 100, is shown. The gamingnetwork 300 may provide, among other things, download and configurationfunctionality. The gaming network 300 may include computer systems suchas a slot management system 302 (see FIG. 3B) and a casino managementsystem 304 (see FIG. 3B) networked to gaming machines, which includeselectronic gaming machines 306 a and legacy gaming machines 306 b andwhich are collectively referenced as 306.

The electronic gaming machines 306 a may include a player interface unit310 (such as Bally iView), a main gaming processor unit (MPU) 312, agame monitoring unit (GMU) 314, and possibly other network enabledgaming components such as a game controller 316 which may each connectto the network and may connect to each other to communicate as needed,such as communications related to the status of the gaming machine orgame play.

Referring to FIG. 3A, and generally to FIGS. 3B and 3C, the gamingnetwork 300 includes a download and configuration management (DCM)server system 318. A user may interact with the download andconfiguration management server system 318 via a control station 320which may have a graphical user interface displaying a control panelsuch as commercially available Bally control panel (BCP) 308.

The download and configuration management server system 318 includesdownload and configuration services block 322 (see FIG. 3A), which mayinclude a Web accessible download service 324, a Web accessible downloadhandler service 326, a Web accessible configuration service 328, anoption configuration handler server 330, a Web accessible schedulerservice 332 and a Web accessible scheduler handler service 334 (See FIG.3A). In some embodiments (see FIG. 3B), the download and configurationservices block 322 may be implemented by a download server 336, adownload handler server 338, a configuration server 340, an optionconfiguration handler server 342, a scheduler server (not shown) and ascheduler handler server (not shown).)

The download and configuration management server system 318 may alsoinclude download and configuration database 344 (including for exampleconventional storage depositories such as containing a download database346, a schedule database 348, and a configuration database 350), networkcomponents 352 (for example, conventional hardware and software tosupport internet information services (IIS) 354, Microsoft MessageQueuing (MSMQ) 356, and domain name system (DNS) 358, a structured querylanguage (SQL) report server 360, an active directory 362, a certificateserver 364, a download library 366, and an SDDP (Software DownloadDistribution Point) 368), G2S (Game-to-Server) host 370 (including forexample a download handler 372, an executive service 374, an optionconfiguration handler 376, a G2S engine 378, a delivery agent 380, and aG2S Web accessible service 382), and EGMs 306 (including for example afacility floor of network connected gaming machines and tables which mayeach include a player interface unit 310 such as commercially availableBally iView or similar product features and/or a gaming main processorunit 312 which are individually identifiable and addressable over thenetwork. (The referenced Web service utilizes a secure (HTTP(s)transmission protocol used to communicate with the slot managementservice and vice-versa. This system operates using web protocol and webservices to serve information and process transactions. It does notserve web pages in the traditional sense.)

Download an configuration management server system 318 enables thetransmission of software files, packages or modules to one or moreclients, such as gaming machines or tables, via, for example, a casinonetwork using the Gaming Standard Association's (GSA's) Game to System(G2S) message protocols. The download and configuration managementserver system 318 includes configuration functionality that enables theselecting of specific settings and options on one or more clients usingGSA's G2S message protocols, such as to modify the Alpha operatingsystem on conventionally available gaming machines or third party gamingmachine or table operating systems. Subsystems of download andconfiguration management server system 318 connect to control station320, which includes a common user interface application such as acontrol panel application, so that a user can request data and issuecommands for the processing of download and configuration operationsthroughout the network.

Download and configuration management server system 318 provides for thefollowing G2S download class features:

-   -   The G2S download class provides a standardized protocol to        manage the downloaded content on all G2S compliant gaming        machines or tables (EGMs 306) from all G2S compliant host        systems;    -   The G2S download class enables installation of downloaded        packages;    -   The G2S download class enables the removal of software        (uninstall);    -   The G2S download class enables scheduling of installation and/or        removal of software including enabling scheduling options that        relate to a specific time, EGM state, or interaction with a host        server or technician;    -   The G2S message class supports reading an inventory of        downloaded packages and installed modules. This provides the        capability to effectively manage the content on the EGM;    -   The G2S message class enables recording transaction logs for        packages and scripts on a transaction database accessible        through control station 320. This feature provides an audit        capability or transaction tracer for determining how content        came to be on an EGM.

The download and configuration management server system 318 alsoprovides the following G2S option configuration (optionConfig) classfeatures which allows for the selection of various configurationoptions:

The optionConfig class provides a convenient and efficient mechanism toremotely configure EGMs 306.

The G2S optionConfig class provides for downloading options availablefrom within an EGM 306.

Download and configuration management server system 318 implemented G2Sclasses (optionConfig, download, and scheduler) are also integrate-ablethrough secondary displays, such as the iView, by incorporating, forexample an iView transaction server. Thus, download, configuration, andconfiguration options may be implemented at selected EGMs 306 throughtheir respective MPU (Main Processor Unit) 312 or player interface unit310 or iView. In the case of the respective player interface units 310of the EGMs 306 being embodied in a respective Bally iView and using theBally iViews for network communications, a separate processor board maybe provided along with a display and user interfaces. Communicationchannels are connectable between the iViews and the MPU to enable thedownload, configuration, and configuration option processes. Somedefinitions of terms and components follow:

Databases—The databases return information based on the results of astored procedure call. By example, the following databases, which aredescriptively named, may be utilized: Core; Configuration; Download;Activity; and Schedule.

BCP (Control Panel)—As an example, the control panel application 308,such as Bally Control Panel, may be a smart client implemented oncontrol station 320 encapsulating all the functionality to support thecommand and control portions of the download and configuration featuresof a facility or facilities. Downloads and configuration options may beremotely scheduled or deployed immediately by a user through controlstation 320. Notifications, approvals, searches, and reports producedthrough download and configuration management server system 318 may beviewed by a user through a display or through hardcopy provided by aconnected printer to control station 320.

Control station 320 may take a variety of forms such as, but not limitedto, a Dell or Sun computer workstation that includes a display,keyboard, and networked operating system software.

Control station 320 may be utilized for remote downloading andconfiguration of games and game operating systems of connected EGMs 306.Also, control station 320 may be utilized to download content to or toconfigure the player interface unit 310 such as an iView (or similarcomponents) and second game displays or monitors (for instance, in casesin which an EGM 306 has two or more major displays) (which may alsoinclude an additional processor unit such as for example in the case ofmultiple games operable on a single EGM 306 on separate displays), aswell as peripheral software for components in the games like billvalidators and ticket printers.

Control station 320 may be utilized for the throttling of systemresources based on the requested changes. For example if the userrequests several high bandwidth consuming jobs be initiatedconcurrently, the control station 320 would advise the user that thiswould utilize more than allocated bandwidth and require changes to theproposed schedule. In some embodiments, the control station 320 mayrecommend changes to the schedule to ease the work requirement for theuser.

Control station 320 may be utilized for the broad based change to gamingfloors to support special events. For example on Halloween a specializedbackground or theme could be downloaded or configured on all capablegames and devices for the duration of the event. Broad based change togaming floors may be further extended to enabling specialized bonusgames on other player centric activities relating to the special eventor holiday. This allows a user of control station 320 to fully customizethe property without the manual effort required with current systems andtechnologies.

Control station 320 may be utilized to fully view in a graphical fashiongaming floor configurations that have occurred in the past or areproposed for the future. This allows the user of control station 320 toeasily and quickly compare past gaming floor configurations toconfigurations proposed for the future in an easy to understandgraphical manner. In some embodiments, these configurations be animatedin a manner that realistically depicts the activity on the gaming floorover a period of time allowing the user of control station 320 to‘watch’ the impact of the proposed changes.

Control station 320 may be utilized to view machine utilizationinformation over time to determine where certain groups of players spendtheir time while at the property. For example if certain demographicgroups are inclined to utilize machines configured at 0.25 per play andthis control station 320 capability can illustrate the fact that duringcertain times of the day this machine configuration is completelyutilized and that a large group of this demographic is scheduled tovisit the property, the casino manager could opt to enable more of thistype of game so players are not waiting for an opportunity to play. Insome embodiments, this feature is presented in an animated fashion suchthat the user of control station 320 may select a date range and analyzein real time game usage by time of day and by player demographic. Thisfeatures also requires control station 320 have access to and have thecapability to process information from the player marketing system orhave access to the data stream feeding the player marketing system.

Control station 320 has the capability to allow groups of gaming devicesbe identified and operated upon via a number of query options. This aidsthe user in quickly and effectively finding the machines to applychanges to. In some embodiments, advanced selection criteria such asperformance over the last 30 days be considered as a query parameter.The control station 320 can provide the capability to utilize agraphical representation of the gaming floor. This allows selectedgroups of games to graphically represented on this floor map as well asin a list form.

Control station 320 can utilize historical slot game performance data toprovide guidance for new floor configuration options. The historicaldata may be accessed in the download system data stores or from anexternal business intelligence system. In some embodiments, the controlstation 320 may be programmed to allow for automated floor configurationchanges based on the historical performance data. This capability may beapplied automatically or via an interface requiring only approval fromthe user prior to applying the changes.

Database Web Services—These are world-wide Web (Web) services that areconventionally available to be re-used by other user interfaces andservice applications connected to slot management system 302. In otherwords, this is a secure closed system network using web servicesconnected on demand with the slot management system.

Handlers—These are the logic libraries that are responsible forexecuting the business logic of the system.

Network Components—The following list of network components, or portionsthereof, may be implemented and/or required by download andconfiguration management server system 318: Certificate Server 364; DNS358; DHCP, firewalls 384, which may include applications, hardware, orcombinations thereof, and Network Load Balancers

Third Party Software Applications—the following list of 3^(rd) partyapplications my be utilized or required by the download andconfiguration server system 318: IIS 354, MSMQ 356, SQL Report Server360, SQL Server Reporting Services, Active Directory 362, MicrosoftWindows 2003 Server.

G2S Engine 378—This service receives G2S messages from EGMs 306 anddispatches them to a respective subsystem of download and configurationserver system 318 based on the message component type.

EGMs—Electronic Gaming Machine 306, which may include tables and/orlegacy machines with processor and/or display components.

Player interface unit (iView)—For example, a conventional apparatusproviding a player user interface and display at EGMs 306 connected tothe network including the player tracking server and enabling a playerto request and receive information, to receive award notifications, totransfer credits, and to conduct such activities through the apparatusas is enabled on slot management system 302. One usage of an iView-typeapparatus may be to display marketing and player tracking informationand various shows on the occurrence of an award or win by a player. Suchapparatuses may also be utilized as vessels for gaming, such as withserver-based games or even independent games stored on their respectiveprocessor boards. Thus, separate games may be implemented through theiView-type device, apart from the main game of EGM 306 controlled by theMPU. In turn, the content of the player interface unit 310 such as aniView may be separately modified as through downloads or configurationsor configuration options.

Control station 320 is able to retrieve from the database and view alllogin attempts to the server both successful and failed. A user may belocked out of access to the control panel application at control station320 after too many failed login attempts. The recorded transaction logmay include the login ID, data, time of login and duration.

The Web services may support functionality between control station 320and database 207. The Web services may also support unsolicited messagesbetween the G2S handlers and control station 320.

Download and configuration management server system 318 may maintain arecord or transaction log of login attempts to the server bothsuccessful and failed. The log may include the login ID, data, time oflogin and duration. Download and configuration management server system318 may also maintain a transaction record or log of all events andactivity occurring on download and configuration management serversystem 318. The log may include a record of which login session in whichthe event occurred.

Download and configuration management server system 318 may alsomaintain a log of communication events with any EGM 306. Download andconfiguration management server system 318 may also maintain the statusof each EGM 306 including: Game history data; Download status(available, requested, downloading, applied, rejected); Packageinformation (available for install, requested, being downloaded,downloaded, installed); Hardware information; Software ModuleInformation; and/or Error conditions.

Download and configuration management server system 318 may dynamicallybuild packages to be downloaded based on EGM 306 inventory and availableupdates, fixes and new data for EGMs 306. Download and configurationmanagement server system 318 may verify requests from EGM 306 includingwhether or not EGM 306 is valid and that it is in a state to make therequest. Requests may be logged and contain EGM 306's identificationnumber, time and date, specific request, and EGM status. Download andconfiguration management server system 318 may communicate with SoftwareDistribution Point servers (SDDP) to maintain a list of packages thatare available for supported EGMs 306. Download and configurationmanagement server system 318 may supply the location of the SDDP wheninstructing EGM 306 to add a package. Download and configurationmanagement server system 318 may verify that all required hardware andsoftware for a package to be sent to an EGM exists before instructingEGM 306 to retrieve the package. Download and configuration managementserver system 318 may support multiple EGMs 306 in multiple sites and/orfacilities and EGMs 306 produced by multiple manufacturers. Download andconfiguration management server system 318 may verify, using theinformation in the package header and the information stored aboutselected of EGM 306, that a software package can be installed on aselected EGM 306 before instructing EGM 306 to add a package. Downloadand configuration management server system 318 may be able to trackwhich packages are installed on any given EGM 306 and verify the data byrequesting a selected EGM 306 to send package install information.Download and configuration management server system 318 may report badimages and errors and log them when failed package installationinformation is received from an EGM 306. Download and configurationmanagement server system 318 and SDDP may be used to control all networkpacing, bandwidth, error recovery, and monitoring. Download andconfiguration management server system 318 may be utilized formaintaining the location of all SDDP and the packages available on each.

Software Download Distribution Point (SDDP) server 368 may be utilizedto maintain all downloaded software packages in a secure library withthe required number of secure backups defined by a jurisdiction. TheSDDP server 368 may be used to restrict access to the library thatstores all software download packages to only authorized personnel. Theaccess may limit access, such as to only allow write access to thoseauthorized to add, delete, and update packages and read access for allothers authorized to access the library. The SDDP server 368 may providesecure software level firewalls to restrict access to everything savedon the server. The SDDP server 368 may maintain a log of login attemptsto the server both successful and failed. The log may include the loginID of a user, data, time of login and duration. The SDDP server 368 maymaintain a log of all events and activity occurring on download andconfiguration management server system 318. The log may include whichlogin session in which an event occurred.

Software packages added to the software library may be verified from thepackage data using an MD5 or SHA1 hashing algorithm to validate the dataor some other verification tool. The verification string may be added toa package header and used to re-verify the package when it is downloadedto the EGM 306.

All verification failures and related errors may be logged and the logentry may contain the date and time, the ID of the person running theprocess at the time, and the specific type of error that occurred. Theymay also be displayed on the correct display area.

The SDDP server 368 may be utilized to provide selected EGMs 306 withthe communications port location and IP address used for sendingsoftware package data to the EGM 306. All data within a download packagemay be compressed using conventional compression techniques andtransmitted in compressed format. On receipt, EGM 306 may decompress thedownloaded software package.

Referring to FIGS. 3B and 3C, gaming network 300 is shown inrepresentative form. The download and configuration management serversystem 318 may be a portion of the slot management system 302 whichprovides a suite of subsystems designed to provide customizablesolutions by allowing users to select products within the suite to meettheir needs for particular facilities, such as a casino manager seekingto manage a single or multiple properties. Download and Configuration(Download and Config) are two of the subsystems offered in the suitethat provides a user, such as the Slot Operations staff, an efficientmechanism to remotely configure electronic gaming machine (EGM).

The download and configuration software utilized together with theapparatuses as shown in the figures may be used to enable a casino'sstaff such as slot operations staff to schedule and change a game(s) onthe casino floor from a keyboard.

Using the control panel (BCP) interface, casino personnel may schedule,

configure, download and activate changes to games on the floor, withouttouching an EGM 306 on the floor. download and configuration softwareapplication may be loaded on control station 320 to enable the sendingof information over the casino network using G2S & HTTPS standardizedmessage protocols that manage the downloaded content. From controlstation 320, a user, such as casino staff, can change cabinet or gameoptions, or games in respective EGMs 306. There may be numerousselections that the staff can schedule to configure or make a minorchange. Table 1 below list some examples of the types of software thatmay be downloaded or options which may be re-configured:

TABLE 1 Downloadable Software and Options Cabinet Options Game OptionsDownload Options Sound Game/Theme Change a game, theme, &/or paytableReel spin speed Paytable Change game operating system Background colorDenomination Attract mode

In order to implement the download and configuration features, oneapproach is to install slot management system 302 at a facility, such asthe commercially available Bally_Live slot management system. Theimplementation of the download and configuration features furthercontemplates the implementation of server hardware and related equipmentas shown in the figures, and particularly FIGS. 3A-3C, includingsoftware to perform the needed functions for communicating relevant dataand instructions, the implementation of download ready EGMs, such asEGMs 306 with an Alpha operating system with remote download andconfiguration capability. An example system for implementing thedownload and configuration management server system 318 may be acommercially available Bally One System together with a commerciallyavailable Bally Live Floor program. Another example implementation ofthe download and configuration management server system 318 may be inconjunction with other slot management systems incorporating acommercially available Bally Live Core program.

An exemplary process for using the download and configuration serversystem 318 is as follows: a casino operator decides to change gamethemes on one or more EGMs 306 such as V20D-20 EGMs. The software gamethemes may be located on the SDDP Server 368. Download management toolsmay be located on an Application/Database Server System. One or moreservers separate from the SDDP Server 368 may contain the game themesoftware, such as for security or redundancy purposes. The Alpha EGMsare identified on the casino floor using the BCP 308. A downloadmanagement tool, such as the BCP scheduler 200 may be used through amenu to identify: the date and time to download the game packages; i.e.,the game packages to send to the specific EGMs; the date and time toautomatically activate the games on the EGMs after the download. At theselected date and time, the EGM may open communication with the DownloadDatabase. The EGM request software from the SDDP server 368. The SDDPserver 368 downloads the specified game information to the EGM using asecure transmission protocol such as HTTPS. The download to the EGM mayoccur in the background operation of the Alpha OS, so that game play isnot interfered with. The EGM may de-activate game operation apre-determined amount of time subsequent to the last play on the EGM,such as five minutes, and issue a message on one of its display panelsthat it is temporarily offline, at which point the EGM can initiateinstallation of the downloaded software. A record of the transmissionsand corresponding activity of the EGM is relayed to a retrievablestorage on the network, such that a privileged user may operate the BCP308 to run the reports identifying the old and new games, date changed,and by whom. User privileges may be restricted as discussed previouslyto provide additional levels of security and flexibility within thesystem and for the casino operator or users of slot management system302 and download and configuration server network 318.

The download and configuration management server system 318 may aplurality, for example 10 EGMs, through a single Cisco 2950 switch. Asthe number of EGMs increases, the type and/or number of servers,switches, firewalls, and pipelines may be changed to accommodate highertraffic volumes and improve or avoid degradation of performance.

In one embodiment, the following apparatuses and software may beincorporated:

Example Components Example Hardware Example Software SDDP Server (SDDPPentium IV 2 GB OS—Microsoft may be placed on its RAM 100 Windows 2003own server to comply GB SATA 2 NIC cards Microsoft SQL 2005 with somejurisdiction requirements.) Application Library Pentium IV 2 GBOS—Microsoft Server RAM 100 Windows 2003 GB SATA 2 NIC cards MicrosoftSQL 2005 Databases: Pentium IV 2 GB OS—Microsoft Scheduler RAM 100Windows 2003 Download GB SATA 2 NIC cards Microsoft SQL 2005Configuration Networking Cisco 2950 Switch, 24-port Cisco ASA 5510(firewall) Connecting wiring CAT-5 cables 15 feet between devices long 2cables per EGM

Discovery method to dynamically find gaming networked components usingDHCP, DNS, LDAP, and Active Directory to locate services within thegaming network that are available in a casino.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary flow diagram of a process 400 of networkedcomponent discovery that may be utilized by a gaming network inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

In one embodiment, the exemplary process of networked componentdiscovery may take advantage of network infrastructure available on aWindows network, such as the Bally One slot management system:

An application 402 finds a DNS server 404, which is referred to by thenetwork setup. The network setup may have been manual or by DHCP.

At 406, the application 402 then does a look-up of a specific name of anLDAP server 408 in a scope guaranteed to be at all casinos if theservice is available and receives the results.

At 410, the application 402 queries the LDAP server 408 for the assignedname of the resource (database entry, or web service entry) and receivesresults therefrom. The entry may include the user name and password touse to connect to the database or may specify that the user is to usetheir own credentials.

At 412, the application 402 may use the information from the LDAP server408 to login with a user authentication web service 414.

At 416, the application 402 queries the LDAP server 408 for the assignedname of an activity recorder 418 and receives results therefrom, and at420, the application 402 connects to the activity recorder 418.

At 422, the application 402 queries the LDAP server 408 for the assignedname of other web services 424 and receives results therefrom, and at426, the application 402 connects to the web services 424.

At 428, the application 402 queries the LDAP server 408 for the assignedname of database 430 and receives results therefrom, and at 432, theapplication 402 connects to the database 430.

There may be any number of DNS or LDAP servers to handle the process ofnetworked component discovery. Also, the data returned back from theLDAP or DNS servers may be different from results returned to othermachines based off of information obtained from the network cardconnecting to the network. For example, the north-east portion of thecasino may force all requests to a different web service than theSouth-east portion. The LDAP server may be implemented by a third partyvendor (such as Microsoft) or by the system vendor (such as BallyTechnologies). The same is true of the DNS server. The results may alsobe returned by the version of the software the client is able tosupport. For example, the results may indicate a first server forversion 1.0 of a protocol and a second server for version 2.0 of thesame protocol.

Benefits and features of the discovery process and mechanism may includeone or more of the following:

Benefit 1. Currently every server and workstation such as controlstation 320 may need to be configured manually, which may cause asignificant workload on casino personnel. In addition, the potential formis-configuration, which may be the result of manual configuration, maycause serious side effects including system downtime.

Benefit 2. The discovery process allows for dynamic configuration basedon server availability and load. The system can report into the LDAPserver the performance information about load and server availability.The LDAP server can then make decisions based on this information toroute new connections to servers better able to handle the load.

Benefit 3. The discovery process allows for upgrading a small part ofthe casino to a new version of code and not have everyone go to it untilthe code has proven itself in a live environment. This provides a stageddeployment capability that does not require the casino to be down duringan upgrade process. It also allows for field trial capability withoutrisking the entire casino operation.

Benefit 4. Resources can be spread throughout the casino. Not allservers need to be in the server room. There can be several closets onthe floor with servers running. The servers can handle a section of thefloor. This prevents a disaster in the computer room from downing theentire casino.

Benefit 5. If a closet handling a section of the floor is no longeravailable, a different closet can then take over.

System and Method for one-way delivery of notifications fromserver-to-clients using a modified UDP multicast.

In a strict client-server system, a server doesn't initiatecommunications with its clients. Instead, the server responds torequests from the clients. In a strict client-server system, when theserver has knowledge a change in a system or component of a system, theserver cannot notify the clients that might be interested in or need toknow of the change. Similarly, the server cannot notify clients ofevents or current status of events. One technique to overcome theseissues is for the clients to poll the server.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an exemplary client-server system 500 with multipleclients, individually referenced as BCP client 1-n and collectivelyreferenced as clients 502, and a server 504 that is configured torespond to client-requests and configured to selectively providenotifications of changes and/or notifications of events and/or status ofevents. The notifications from the server 504 are not provided to theclients 502 as a direct response to a request from the selected clients.In one embodiment, the server 504 may employ a modified form of aUDP-multicast protocol to implement a one-way notification between theserver 504 and one or more clients 504.

Architecture

FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples of how one-way notification may beimplemented according to one non-limiting embodiment. The clients 502may take a variety of forms such as, but not limited to, a Dell or Suncomputer workstation that includes a display, keyboard, and networkedoperating system software.

Among other things, the server 504 maintains a database storing aplurality of tables. For the sake of clarity, the plurality of tables isdescribed below as including “table-1” and “table-4.”

FIG. 5 shows a modified UDP multicast where a change occurred todatabase table-1 and database table-4. BCP client-1 has registered toreceive notifications concerning database table-4, but not databasetable-1, so a notification message only about database table-4 is sentto BCP client-1. BCP client-2 and client-n have registered to receivenotifications about changes to database table-1, but not to databasetable-4, so a notification message only about database table-1 is sentto BCP client-2 and client-n. FIG. 5 further shows the normal messageloop between client and server which is initiated by a client requestfollowed by a server reply.

FIG. 6 shows how the one-way notification may be implemented to sendevent notifications such as assignment status updates or job statusupdates to selected clients 502. Each one of the clients 502 has adisplay and employs a graphical user interface. The display of the BCPclient-1 shows an “EGM Collections” GUI, and the respective displays ofBCP client-2 and client-n show a “Job Status” GUI. The server 504 isaware of the status of a job being monitored by the BCP client-2 andclient-n. Since the “Job Status” GUI is being implemented by BCP client2 and client-n, the server sends job status notifications to BCP client2 and client-n. Since the GUI on BCP client-1 does not involve jobstatus, the server 504 does not send job status notifications to BCPclient-1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a portion of an exemplary download and configurationmanagement (DCM) engine 700 that may provide one-way notifications toclients. The DCM engine 700 may employ, among other things, a DCM engineservice 702, business libraries 704, and data access layer 706.

The DCM engine service 702 may include an application programminginterface suite 708, a user interface (UI) notification processor 710,and a UDP broadcast processor 712. The UDP broadcast processor 712 maybe simply one of various components in the DCM engine (server). The UDPbroadcast processor 712 may be integrated as part of the DCM server CPU(central processing unit) by including executable UDP broadcast codingperforming the functions as described above and utilizing accessiblememory for storing information about each client, such as registrationinformation. The UDP broadcast processor 712 may be generallyresponsible for sending UDP messages to the registered clients in thenetwork. The UDP broadcast processor 712 may send UDP messages to allregistered clients which are listening to receive UDP messages on aspecific port. This allows one-way, server-to-client(s), communicationsin what is otherwise a strict client-to-server-to-client architecture.

FIG. 8 shows a process 800 for registering a client 802 with a DCMEngine 804. The client 802 may be implementing a client-application suchas BCP application. The client-application sends a registration requestor message 806 to the DCM engine 804. The registration message 806includes an IP address associated with the client 802. The registrationmessage 806 may also include information indicative of types ofnotifications to be provided to the client 802.

The DCM engine 804 sends the IP address associated with the client 802to a database 808, which stores the IP address. The DCM engine 804 mayalso store in the database 808 information indicative of types ofnotifications to be provided to the client 802.

The client 802 sends a Port request message 810 to the DCM engine 804.The DCM engine 804 responds to the Port request message 810 by providingthe client 804 with a Port number message 812, which includes a portnumber. The client 802 listens to the port identified by the port numberfor notifications from the DCM engine 804.

In some embodiments, the client 802 may register with the DCM engine 804as part of a boot-up or log-in procedure of the client 802. In someembodiments, the client 802 may register with the DCM engine 804 as partas opening/starting an application. In some embodiments, the client 802may register with the DCM engine 804 at any time. For example, a user ofthe client 802 might initiate registration of the client 802.

FIG. 9 shows a process 900 by which a DCM engine 904 providesnotifications to clients 902. The DCM engine 904 sends a request 908 foraddresses of registered clients 902 to a database 906. The database 906sends the addresses 910 of the registered clients 902 to the DCM engine904. The DCM engine 904 addresses a notification 912 with the addressesof the registered clients 902 and sends the notification 912 to theregistered clients 902.

In some embodiments, when the DCM engine 904 wants to send out anotification, the UDP broadcast processor 712 (see FIG. 7) may query thedatabase 906 for a list of clients that have registered for a particulartype of notification. The database 904 replies with the list. The UDPbroadcast processor then formats and sends the notification to allclients on the list using the assigned port number.

FIG. 10 shows a process 1000 of de-registering a registered client 1002.The client 1002 sends an unregister-client request 1008 to a DCM engine1004. The DCM engine 1004 sends an address delete message 1010 to adatabase 1006, which deletes an IP address associated with the client1002 from the database 1006.

In some embodiments, the client 1002 may unregister with the DCM engine1004 as part of a shut-down or log-out procedure of the client 1002. Insome embodiments, the client 1002 may unregister with the DCM engine1004 as part as closing/ending an application. In some embodiments, theclient 1002 may unregister with the DCM engine 1004 at any time. Forexample, a user of the client 1002 might initiate unregistration of theclient 1002.

Example Benefits and Aspects of the modified UDP Broadcast process andmechanism may include:

-   -   UDP message may be sent only to the registered clients, not        broadcasted to all, which minimizes network traffic;    -   Enhances system security since only the registered clients        receives the UDP message;    -   Configuration of this system may be easily accomplished without        a need to configure network devices in order to support        multicast;    -   Any number of the client machines can be on a different network        domain than the DCM engine;

EGM Group Collection Management

In some embodiments, an EGM 306 may be associated with a number of otherEGMs 306 to constitute a group of EGMs. In some embodiments, an EGM 306may belong to any number of groups, and in some embodiments, an EGMgroup can be assigned to another EGM group allowing for ‘nested’collections.

Within the download and configuration management server system 318 (DCM)and a client 500 running an application such as control panel 308, anon-limiting example of which is Bally Control Panel (BCP), a user canassociate an EGM 306 with an EGM Collection Group. An EGM group issimply a collection of EGMs. An EGM group can contain other EGM groups,i.e., nested grouping. An EGM can belong to 0 or more EGM groups.

Among other things, the control panel 308 may enable an operator/user ofthe client 500 and/or control station 320 to:

-   -   Create/Modify/Remove an EGM group.    -   Add/Remove EGMs and EGM collections of an EGM group.    -   Make a copy of an existing EGM group.

In some embodiments, the download and configuration management serversystem 318 perform dynamic configuration assignments that may be appliedconcurrently to respective EGMs of an EGM group, along with dynamicdownload assignments that may be scheduled independently of theconfiguration assignments.

For example, a new O/S version download may be scheduled to occur duringoff-peak hours for Sunday night. A configuration assignment may bescheduled to decrease the payout percentage of the bar top machinesduring happy hour each day of the week, and a Stars and Stripesconfiguration can have other configuration changes when a scheduledupcoming tournament is to be sponsored.

All of these assignments may be scheduled and allows for the casinomanager to look at his casino from different perspectives and manage thecasino effectively.

Referring to FIG. 11, a collection of gaming machines and grouping orassociational relationships is shown. The relationships may be made byincluding relational coding in the control panel 308, such as a DCMserver and a user interface including a display and keyboard. By usingconventional relational programming, the features and capabilities ofthe DCM server may be extended from a single gaming machine or a floorof gaming machines, so that collections and groups of gaming machinesmay be virtually created. For instance, in FIG. 11, shown by example:

-   -   Three EGM collections 1102, 1104, 1106 are generated: one group,        EGM O/S group 1102, includes EGM1-EGM3 with the same operating        system. Another group, bar top (or counter top) configuration        group 1104 includes EGM1 and EGM2 based on casino location, and        another group, Star and Stripes group 1106, includes EGM3 based        on the game-theme.    -   EGMs may belong to multiple groups, e.g., EGM1 is part of both        the EGM O/S group 1102 and the Bar Top Configuration group 1104.    -   Nested collections. Both the Bar Top Configuration Group 1104        and Stars and Stripes configuration group 1106 are part of the        EGM O/S group 1102.

By selectively grouping, a casino operator can download softwarespecific to gaming machines having a particular operating system (O/S),location on the floor, or game theme, to name a few examples.

Method and system for providing download and configuration job progresstracking and display via host user interface.

Download and configuration capabilities in the gaming environmentcreates considerable operational challenges. For example, a download mayrequire a considerable volume of gaming content to be transferred overthe network. Many casinos are open 24/7, and consequently, some casinosmay require a download to take place without disrupting normal gamingactivities. In order to not tax the network resources of a casino, alimit on the download bandwidth may be imposed even though doing so mayincrease the download time. It may not be unusual for some download jobsto take 30 minutes or more. Thus, a way of easily monitoring downloadprogress would be invaluable to casino operators.

A download system may be centralized and “push” the data down to thegaming machines 306. In this case, a content server 390 (see FIG. 3B)pushing the data knows the amount of data that has been downloaded atany time. However, in a “pull” system, where the gaming machines 306 aretold where to go for the data and the gaming machines 306 are taking(pulling') the data from the content server 390, the content server 390generally does not know the amount of data a given gaming machine 306has downloaded.

Until recently, the gaming industry has been a collection of proprietarysystems and communication protocols. In many cases, a casino had to buythe entire system (games, controllers and backend system) from onecompany. Most casinos would prefer to use a mix of manufacturers' gameson the gaming floor, and then pick the best backend system that suitstheir needs. Until recently, this was not a realistic expectation.

A few years ago, several gaming entities came together and created theGaming Standards Association (GSA) in order to define standardizedprotocols by which games, gaming controllers and backend systems couldcommunicate. The standardized protocols allows interoperability ofdifferent manufacturers' equipment, as well as giving casinos freedom tochoose whichever manufacturers the casinos want for the variouscomponents of a gaming system. One of the GSA protocols isGame-to-System (G2S) protocol, which defines the messages between agaming machine and a backend system. G2S protocol includes messages forhandling software download and configuration of the gaming machines.

FIG. 12 shows various components of a download and configuration system1200, such as a Bally Download and Configuration system, according toone embodiment. The download and configuration system 1200 includes atleast one EGM 1202 that is communicatively coupled to a G2S Host 1204.

The download and configuration system 1200 uses standard G2S protocolsand messages. The EGM 1202 may convey information such as downloadprogress information to the G2S Host 1204 using G2S messages 1206. Forexample, the EGM 1202 may use the G2S ‘packageStatus’ message to conveydownload progress information.

The G2S Host 1204 may provide messages 1206 form the EGM 1202 to amessage queue 1208, which provides the messages to a download andconfiguration manager (DCM) engine 1210. The download and configurationmanager (DCM) engine 1210 read messages 1206 from the message queue 1208and processes them. The aforementioned communication chain, from the EGM1202 to the DCM engine 1210, may be implemented using message structureand protocol conforming to standard G2S and standard Microsoft MessageQueues (MSMQs).

The download and configuration system 1200 further includes a pluralityof communication devices 1212 which may be embodied in computingdevices, computer systems, desktop computer, laptop computers, etc. Thecommunication devices 1212 may communicate with the DCM engine 1210 andmay implement logic modules, executable instructions, software, etc.,that provide a user interface such as a graphical user interface. Insome embodiments, the communication devices 1212 and the DCM engine 1210may have a client-server architecture, where the communication devices1212 may implement a client-application such as a Bally Control Panel1214 client-application 1212 that provides, among other things, agraphical user interface.

In a client-server architecture, communications between a Bally ControlPanel (BCP) client-application 1214 and the DCM engine 1210 aretypically via a standard communication protocol, such as simple objectaccess protocol (SOAP), which is a true client-server architecture wherea server never initiates any communication. Therefore, information (likejob progress info) that needs to be asynchronously sent to the BCPclient-application 1214 cannot be sent via the normal communicationchannel. In some embodiments, the BCP client-application 1214 may pollthe DCM engine 1210 for any possible notification messages. However,polling is inefficient.

In some embodiments, the download and configuration system 1200 isconfigured to allow for one-way messages from the DCM engine 1210 to theBCP client-application 1214 of the communication devices 1212. The DCMengine 1210 may include a broadcast processor such as the UDP broadcastprocessor 712 (see FIG. 7) to facilitate one-way messages from the DCMengine 1210 to the BCP client-application 1214 of the communicationdevices 1210. The DCM engine 1210 may provide registered clients withone-way messages 1216, which may conform to a UDP-multicast message.

In one embodiment, a download progress protocol used between the DCMmessage engine and other backend applications and/or system‘components’. The packageStatus message is converted into a proprietaryone and given to the UDP broadcast processor 712 (see FIG. 7) of the DCMengine 1210 for distribution to the Bally Control Panel (BCP)applications 1214 that have registered with the UDP broadcast processor712 to receive download/configuration progress notification messages.The UDP Broadcast Processor 712 uses a modified form of UDP-multicastfor distributing the notification messages 1216 to the BCP client(s).This is not a true broadcast to all devices on the network which helpsto minimize the bandwidth used to notify clients.

This feature provides the ability to view the percentage downloadprogress in the Host UI (part of BCP) using a messaging scheme whichovercomes the BCP-initiated protocol used for all other messagingbetween BCP and DCM (Client-Server). The Host UI displays the progressbar based on the percentage download communicated from the gaming device(downloading entity) to the DCM engine. All downloading gaming devicesmay also send a ‘download complete’ message. This information can alsobe used by the DCM and BCP to estimate future download time andbandwidth requirements.

A Method for Validating a Download or Configuration Assignment for anEGM or EGM Collection.

FIG. 13 and the following discussion provide a brief, generaldescription of a suitable gaming environment 1300 in which the variousillustrated embodiments may be implemented. Although not required, theembodiments will be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program application modules,objects, or macros being executed by a computer. Those skilled in therelevant art will appreciate that the illustrated embodiments as well asother embodiments may be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, personalcomputers (“PCs”), network PCs, mini computers, mainframe computers, andthe like. The embodiments may be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks or modules are performed by remote processingdevices, which are linked through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

FIG. 13 shows the gaming environment 1300 comprising one or more gamingmachines 1302, one or more gaming environment controllers 1304, and/orserver computing systems 1306 coupled by one or more communicationschannels, for example one or more local area networks (LANs) 1308 orwide area networks (WANs) 1310. The gaming environment 1300 may employother computers, such as conventional personal computers, where the sizeor scale of the system allows.

The gaming environment controller 1304 may take the form of aconventional mainframe or mini-computer that includes a processing unit1312, a system memory 1314 and a system bus 1316 that couples varioussystem components including the system memory 1314 to the processingunit 1312. The gaming environment controller 1304 will at times bereferred to in the singular herein, but this is not intended to limitthe embodiments to a single computing system since in typicalembodiments, there will be more than one computing system or otherdevice involved. Non-limiting examples of commercially available systemsinclude, but are not limited to, an 80×86 or Pentium seriesmicroprocessor from Intel Corporation, U.S.A., a PowerPC microprocessorfrom IBM, a Sparc microprocessor from Sun Microsystems, Inc., a PA-RISCseries microprocessor from Hewlett-Packard Company, or a 68xxx seriesmicroprocessor from Motorola Corporation.

The processing unit 1312 may be any logic processing unit, such as oneor more central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors(DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc. Unless described otherwise, theconstruction and operation of the various blocks shown in FIG. 13 are ofconventional design. As a result, such blocks need not be described infurther detail herein, as they will be understood by those skilled inthe relevant art.

The system bus 1316 can employ any known bus structures orarchitectures, including a memory bus with memory controller, aperipheral bus, and a local bus.

The system memory 1314 includes read-only memory (“ROM”) 1318 and randomaccess memory (“RAM”) 1320. A basic input/output system (“BIOS”) 1322,which can form part of the ROM 1318, contains basic routines that helptransfer information between elements within the gaming environmentcontroller 1304, such as during start-up.

The gaming environment controller 1304 also includes a hard disk drive1324 for reading from and writing to a hard disk 1326, and an opticaldisk drive 1328 and a magnetic disk drive 1330 for reading from andwriting to removable optical disks 1332 and magnetic disks 1334,respectively. The optical disk 1332 can be a CD-ROM, while the magneticdisk 1334 can be a magnetic floppy disk or diskette. The hard disk drive1324, optical disk drive 1328 and magnetic disk drive 1330 communicatewith the processing unit 1312 via the system bus 1316. The hard diskdrive 1324, optical disk drive 1328 and magnetic disk drive 1330 mayinclude interfaces or controllers (not shown) coupled between suchdrives and the system bus 1316, as is known by those skilled in therelevant art. The drives 1324, 1328 and 1330, and their associatedcomputer-readable media 1326, 1332, 1334, provide nonvolatile storage ofcomputer readable instructions, data structures, program modules andother data for the gaming environment controller 1304. Although thedepicted gaming environment controller 1304 employs hard disk 1324,optical disk 1328 and magnetic disk 1330, those skilled in the relevantart will appreciate that other types of computer-readable media that canstore data accessible by a computer may be employed, such as magneticcassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks (“DVD”), Bernoullicartridges, RAMs, ROMs, smart cards, etc.

Logic modules such as program modules, applications, etc. can be storedin the system memory 1314, such as an operating system 1336, one or moreapplication programs 1338 such as a control panel application and/ordownload and configuration applications including assignment schedulingand management and application assignment templates, etc. Logic modulessuch as program modules, applications, etc. can be stored in the otherprograms or modules 1340 and program data 1342. The system memory 1314may also include communications programs, for example, player accesslogic 1344. The player access logic 1344 may allow a player to access avirtual game-entertainment environment via a communication network. Forexample, in some embodiments, a player may use a Web client such as acommercially available browser. Non-limiting examples of commerciallyavailable browsers include Mozilla Firefox developed by MozillaFoundation based in Mountain View, Calif., USA, Safari developed byApple Inc. based in Cupertino, Calif., USA., and Internet Explore byMicrosoft Corp. based in Redmond, Wash., USA.

While shown in FIG. 13 as being stored in the system memory 1314, theoperating system 1336, application programs 1338, other programs/modules1340, program data 1342 and player access logic 1344 can be stored onthe hard disk 1326 of the hard disk drive 1324, the optical disk 1332 ofthe optical disk drive 1328 and/or the magnetic disk 1334 of themagnetic disk drive 1330.

An operator, such as casino personnel, can enter commands andinformation into the gaming environment controller 1304 through inputdevices such as a touch screen or keyboard 1346 and/or a pointing devicesuch as a mouse 1348. Other input devices can include a microphone,joystick, game pad, tablet, scanner, etc. These and other input devicesare connected to the processing unit 1312 through an interface 1350 suchas a serial port interface that couples to the system bus 1316, althoughother interfaces such as a parallel port, a game port, a wirelessinterface, or a universal serial bus (“USB”) can be used. A monitor 1352or other display device is coupled to the system bus 1316 via a videointerface 1354, such as a video adapter. The gaming environmentcontroller 1304 can include other output devices, such as speakers,printers, etc.

The gaming environment controller 1304 can operate in a networkedenvironment using logical connections to one or more remote computersand/or devices, for example, the server computing system 1306. Theserver computing system 1306 can be another personal computer, a server,another type of computer, or a collection of more than one computercommunicatively linked together and typically includes many or all ofthe elements described above for the gaming environment controller 1304.The server computing system 1306 is logically connected to one or moreof the gaming environment controllers 1304 under any known method ofpermitting computers to communicate, for example, through one or moreLANs 1308 and/or WANs 1310 such as the Internet. Such networkingenvironments are well known in wired and wireless enterprise-widecomputer networks, intranets, extranets, and the Internet. Otherembodiments include other types of communication networks includingtelecommunications networks, cellular networks, paging networks, andother mobile networks.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the gaming environmentcontroller 1304 is connected to the LAN 1308 through an adapter ornetwork interface 1360 (communicatively linked to the system bus 1316).When used in a WAN networking environment, the gaming environmentcontroller 1304 may include a modem 1362 or other device, such as thenetwork interface 1360, for establishing communications over the WAN1310. The modem 1362 is shown in FIG. 13 as communicatively linkedbetween the interface 1350 and the WAN 1310.

In a networked environment, program modules, application programs, data,or portions thereof, can be stored in the server computing system 1306.In the depicted embodiment, the gaming environment controller 1304 iscommunicatively linked to the server computing system 1306 through theLANs 1308 and/or WAN 1310, for example with TCP/IP middle layer networkprotocols. However, other similar network protocol layers are used inother embodiments, such as User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”). Those skilledin the relevant art will readily recognize that the network connectionsshown in FIG. 13 are only some examples of establishing communicationlinks between computers, and other links may be used, including wirelesslinks.

The server computing system 1306 includes server applications 1364 forthe routing of instructions, programs, data and agents between thegaming machines 1302 and the gaming environment controller 1304. Forexample the server applications 1364 may include conventional serverapplications such as WINDOWS NT 13.0 Server, and/or WINDOWS 2000 Server,available from Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Wash. Additionally, oralternatively, the server applications 1364 can include any of a numberof commercially available Web servers, such as INTERNET INFORMATIONSERVICE from Microsoft Corporation and/or IPLANET from Netscape/AmericaOn Line (AOL). The server applications 1364 may include applications forinterfacing with a control panel application. The server applications1364 may also include applications for downloading applications,structured data, data, etc. to gaming machines 1302. The serverapplications 1364 may also include applications for configuring gamingmachines 1302 such as by setting various operational parameters of thegaming machines 1302.

The server computing system 1306 may also include an assignmentvalidator 1366. Among other things, the assignment validator 1366 maycomprise an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementinglogical functions. In particular, the assignment validator 1366 mayinclude logic for, among other things, validating a download assignmentand/or validating a configuration assignment. In other embodiments, theassignment validator may comprise an ordered listing of executableinstructions for implementing logical functions and may be implementedat gaming environment controller 1304.

The gaming machines 1302 may include game stations (not shown) such as,but not limited to, one or more electronic gaming machines, pokertables, one or more blackjack tables, roulette tables, keno tables,craps tables, etc. The gaming machines 1302 may include one or moresensors, detectors, input devices, output devices, actuators, and/orcontrollers such as programmed a microprocessor, DSP, ASIC and/or FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA) or the like. The controllers may executeone or more gaming applications.

In some embodiments, a casino, a manager may schedule when assignmentssuch as, but not limited to, download assignments and/or configurationassignments occur. Any number of assignments may be applied to an EGM orgaming machine 1302. With this flexibility comes a potential for sendingconflicting or contradictory assignments.

An example would be that a bank of gaming machines 1302 may be scheduledto receive a new game theme to add to the list of games a player canchoose from. However, the new game theme may require that the gamingmachines 1302 also contain a specific version of the O/S in order tosupport the new game theme. The assignment validator 1366 may, amongother things, validate the download assignment of the new game theme andmay provide an indication of whether the game theme requires an O/Sdownload that has not yet been scheduled.

The assignment validator 1366 saves the casino manager the headache ofdownloading code that would not be able to either install and/or executecorrectly once installed.

The assignment validator 1366 helps the casino manager/user planconfigurations of the gaming machines 1302.

The assignment validator 1366 may validate a download assignment and/ormay validate a configuration assignment.

Download Assignment Validation

The assignment validator 1366 validates a download assignment andcalculates the chances of its success based on the current information.The assignment validator 1366 verifies if the download assignment beforethe download assignment commences downloading to the gaming machines1302. The assignment validator 1366 verifies whether the downloadassignment will apply the changes successfully on the gaming machines1302 at the execution time of the download assignment. In addition, theassignment validator 1366 may inform the user about any reasons thatwould cause download assignment to fail. Validation checks that may beperformed for download assignments may include:

-   -   Checks if any download or install assignments are scheduled to        occur at the same time. If scheduled, ensure that they are        spaced well apart from each other so that they complete.    -   Checks if any configuration assignments are scheduled at the        same time. If scheduled, ensure that they are spaced well apart        from each other so that they completed.    -   Check if any configuration assignments are scheduled to run        after the download and install to make the gaming machines 1302        playable.

Configuration Assignment Validation

The assignment validator 1366 validates a configuration assignment andmay calculate, based at least on the current information, the chances ofsuccess of the configuration assignment. The assignment validator 1366may verify whether the configuration assignment will successfully applychanges on the gaming machines 1302 at the execution time of theconfiguration assignment. The assignment validator 1366 may inform theuser about any reasons that would cause the configuration assignment tofail. Validation checks that may be performed for configurationsassignments may include:

-   -   Checks if the options selected and their associated values in        assignment apply to the selected gaming machines 1302.    -   If the configuration assignment is a game definition assignment        and a game theme change, then check if the download and        installation of the new game is scheduled to complete before the        configuration assignment.    -   Check if there is any conflicting configuration or download        assignments currently scheduled to run at the same time for the        gaming machine 1302.

With (in some cases), thousands of possible configuration options thatmay be modified and the way a casino manager may want to “manage” theirfloor, the potential for conflicting configurations may frequentlyoccur. The assignment validator 1366 helps the manager in planning floorconfigurations.

Profile Driven Device Configuration

Gaming machine configuration changes such as denomination, reel speed,game volume, wagers per line and number of available lines and contentdownload changes may be occur on a pre-defined time based schedule,called a profile. A user such as slot manager or other authorizedpersonnel may use a control panel 308 (See FIG. 3) to, among otherthings, select a gaming machine 306 that is to be changed, select theconfiguration or content that should be changed, select the values forthe configuration or the game theme to be changed, and the time and dateprofile for the change(s). The user may also use the control panel 308to submit an assignment with the profile to a server, which may thenimplement that profile driven set of changes. A profile drivenconfiguration change assignment or instruction set may include aschedule and a set of machines assigned to that schedule.

For example, a slot manager may want to eliminate all penny and nickeldenominations from games every Friday night at 5 pm and then add backthe nickel denominations on Saturday morning at 9 am but continue toeliminate all penny denominations. The slot manager would create a timebased profile that would affect that change precisely at 5 P.M. on everyFriday and at 9 A.M. on Saturday. This profile could be created andimplemented in advance for one or more machines and then set to run.

Technical Challenges

In a typical casino, there may be several technical and operationalchallenges to be overcome for creating a configuration change profilethat may be executed a wide variety of device types.

First, the user might not be able set absolute values for configurationchanges when some gaming machines or devices handle or implement theconfiguration change in different ways. For example, if the user wantsto set the reel spin speed on a gaming machine to a low reel speed; thatconfiguration setting value may be completely different on a Ballymachine compared to an IGT machine. A Bally machine may have a scale of1-5 for reel speed with 1 being slow and 5 being fast compared to an IGTmachine that has a scale of 1-10 with 1 being slow and 10 being fast.Instructing the system to change the reel speed to high across allmachines on the floor would require a different configuration value forreel speed on a Bally machine and an IGT machine.

Most of the profile driven changes may instruct the machine to change toa specific value that corresponds to a low, medium or high setting. Insome embodiments, profile driven changes may instruct the machine tochange to a relative value such as a low, medium or high setting, andthe machine may translate the relative value to a specific value such as“3”. In some embodiments, profile driven changes may instruct themachine to change to a relative value such as a low, medium or highsetting, and the machine may retrieve a specific value corresponding tothe relative value from a database.

Second, because, in a typical casino, there are different machines fromdifferent manufacturers on the floor, and each machine may use adifferent scale or value range for some configurable options and thetype of machine or its settings may have changed between the time theprofile was created and the change occurs, then, in some embodiments,the machine is interrogated for the machine's current configuration atthe time of the configuration change. Interrogation at or near the timeof the configuration change is one way learning how to make the changein the correct way; by knowing exactly how the machine is configured atthe time of the change. Thus, the system may be able to provide adynamic machine “inventory” at the time that a configuration change isto occur.

Third, there may be a table such as a lookup table or translation tablefor each game theme/manufacturer that correlates the defined genericgaming machine settings such as low, medium and high settings to aspecific gaming machine setting value.

For example, in the case of setting reel speed, a profile drivenconfiguration change may show a generic gaming machine setting of low,medium or high over a time period for one or more gaming machines. Thesegaming machines may be from a combination of different manufacturersthat have a different setting value corresponding to a medium reelspeed. When the system implements a profile driven configuration change,the system may interrogate the gaming machines to determine, among otherthings, the respective manufacturer and the respective game theme foreach of the interrogated gaming machines. In some embodiments, based atleast on knowledge of the manufacturer of a respective gaming machinesystem, the system may refer to a lookup table (all in real-time) andlookup a reel speed value corresponding to the desired generic gamingmachine setting for medium reel speed.

As another example, a user may want to configure one or more of thegaming machines to have a high reel speed on Friday nights. On oneFriday night, a gaming machine may have a first game theme such as aBally Winning Times game, and then on next Friday night, the gamingmachine may have a second game theme such as a Bally Fixin' 2 Win game,where the first and the second game themes have different respectivereel speed value ranges. By interrogating the gaming machine beforereconfiguring the gaming machine, the system may know the current gametheme of the gaming machine, and thereby determine the appropriatespecific gaming machine setting value that corresponds to the desiredgeneric gaming machine setting.

Market

A profile driven configuration change may work on a variety of games inthe casino or arcade market for class 2 or 3, lottery or centraldetermination.

Profile Driven Device Configurations in a Command and Control System

Referring to FIG. 16, a command and control server 1602 iscommunicatively coupled to a plurality of gaming machines, individuallyreferenced as 1604 a-1604 e and collectively referenced as 1604. Thecommand and control server 1602 is communicatively coupled to a database1606, which stores a number of profiles 1608 and may also store a numberof lookup tables associating gaming machines and values of specificoperational parameters to generic settings that may have a relativevalue.

A casino having a command and control server 1602, which may alsoinclude or be embodied in a download and configuration server system,may desire to implement profile driven gaming machines (or otherdevices) configurations. Among other things, the command and controlserver 1602 may implement profile driven gaming machines configurationsbased at least on knowledge of one or more of the following:

1. A profile that defines a configuration value/level over time.

2. A definition of the configuration value that is to be set.

3. A means of knowing the current configuration of the machine that isto be changed.

Time Based Configuration Change Profile

FIG. 14A shows an exemplary volume profile 1400 that could be assignedto one or more gaming devices including electronic gaming machines 1604,player interface units 310 such as, but not limited to, commerciallyavailable iView displays, signage displays, kiosks, audio systems, etc.

The volume profile 1400 has a horizontal axis 1402 and a vertical axis1404. The horizontal axis 1402 is in units of time, in this case a unitrepresents twelve hours. The temporal length of the volume profile 1400may be set a determined value, in this case a five and one-half days areshown, from Wednesday at noon to Monday at midnight. Also, the durationof any setting can be set to a predetermined length, where durations ofdifferent settings may be the same or different.

The vertical axis 1404 shows the value of the generic gaming machinesetting that is to be set on the gaming machines relative to time. Thevertical axis 1404 is in units of generic gaming machine setting foraudible volume, which are low volume, medium volume, and high volume.While the range of the vertical axis 1404 is over three units of genericgaming machine settings in volume profile 1400, other profiles may havewider or smaller ranges corresponding to more or fewer units of genericgaming machine settings, respectively.

It should be noted that the values of the generic gaming machine settingare not specific values such as a specific number like 3. Instead, thevalues of the generic gaming machine setting are relative values such aslow, medium or high level. This is done because each gaming machine orgame theme can have a different definition of low volume. For example, aBally machine has a volume scale of 0-10. An IGT machine might have avolume scale of 0-100 and the command and control system would need toknow what to set the volume to when instructed to set the volume to lowbased on what is on the machine when the change is due to occur.

FIG. 14B shows another exemplary minimum-wager profile 1410 that couldbe assigned to one or more gaming devices including electronic gamingmachines, player interface units 310 such as, but not limited to,commercially available iView displays, signage displays, kiosks, audiosystems, etc.

The minimum-wager profile 1410 shows a minimum wager level that may beassigned to one or more gaming machines as a function of time. Theminimum-wager profile 1410 has a horizontal axis 1412 and a verticalaxis 1414. Just like the volume profile 1400, the horizontal axis 1412is in units of time. Similar to the volume profile 1400, the verticalaxis 1414 shows relative setting values instead of specific settingvalues.

The vertical axis 1414 shows the value of the generic gaming machinesetting that is to be set on the gaming machines relative to time. Thevertical axis 1414 is in units of generic gaming machine setting forminimum wager, which are low minimum wager, medium minimum wager, andhigh minimum wager. While the range of the vertical axis 1414 is overthree units of generic gaming machine settings in exemplary profile1410, other profiles may have wider or smaller ranges corresponding tomore or fewer units of generic gaming machine settings, respectively. Aprofile with generic gaming machine settings such as low, medium, andhigh may be used to set, among others, the following operational gamingmachine parameters:

-   -   volume    -   reel speed    -   minimum wager    -   master volume    -   jackpots

A profile with absolute or specific gaming machine settings may be usedto set, among others, the following operational gaming machineparameters:

-   -   denominations    -   game themes    -   operating systems

In the case of an absolute configuration like denomination, there is noneed for a low, medium or high level. The profile can instruct themachine to convert to a specific denomination.

In one embodiment, the command and control server 1602 may use a look-uptable when a profile driven change instruction set is scheduled to bemade. The look-up table may include information about each gamingmachine (or other devices) at the casino. In some embodiments, there maybe multiple look-up tables, where different tables are associated withdifferent operational parameters of gaming machines or other devices.

TABLE 2 Gaming Machine Specific Lookup Tables Game Game Volume GameVolume Level Manufacturer Cabinet Type Theme Level Setting Bally V2020Winning low 2 Times Bally Cinevision Winning medium 5 Times Bally S9eWinning high 8 Times WMS Bluebird Stepper Top Gun low 12 WMS BluebirdVideo Top Gun medium 45 WMS Bluebird Slant Top Gun high 88 IGT AVP FortKnox low 17 IGT AVP Reel Fort Knox medium 32 IGT AVP Slant Fort Knoxhigh 49 Novomatic Novo 1 Grey Goose low 2 Novomatic Novo 2 Grey Goosemedium 6 Novomatic Novo 3 Grey Goose high 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Table 2 is an exemplary lookup table for volume settings. When a volumechange is requested by a profile driven schedule, the command andcontrol server 1602 may interrogate a gaming machine 1604 to obtain thegaming machine's characteristics. The command and control server 1602may use a lookup table such as Table 2, which may be stored in thedatabase 1606, to implement a profile driven change. The command andcontrol server 1602 may use the lookup table to determine the value ofgame volume setting corresponding to the generic gaming machine settingof the profile. For instance, the command and control sever 1602 mayattempt to change the game volume on floor machines to high on Friday atnoon. If the game volume change was to be made on a gaming machine suchas WMS 1604 c, Bluebird Slant that was running the Top Gun game theme,then the game volume level setting would be 88 as shown in Table 2above.

Typically, there are hundreds of cabinets on the floor of a casino. Insome situations, it may be desired to change the configuration of eachcabinet. The command and control sever 1602 may determine a specificgame volume setting that corresponds to a generic gaming machine valuespecified in a profile driven change by using a lookup table such asgame volume Table 2. Using Table 2, the command and control sever 1602may determine the specific game volume setting for a gaming machine 1604based on knowledge of the gaming machine's manufacturer, cabinet type,game theme.

Slot managers and/or manufacturers may create lookup tables oninstallation of the command and control sever 1602, and the lookuptables may be changed if new gaming machines and/or game themes areintroduced into the casino. In some embodiments, the lookup tables maybe changed if there are new generic gaming machine settings such asgoing from three level settings (e.g., low, medium, high) to five levelsettings (e.g., very low, low, medium, high, very high).

TABLE 3 Minimum Bet/Wager Lookup Table. LookUp Table - Minimum BetMinimum Bet Per Bet Per Minimum Manufac- Cabinet Pay Minimum Line Line#of Lines #of Lines turer Type Theme Table Denomination Bet OptionsSetting Options Setting Bally V2020, Winning Times Bally V2020 Winning90% $0.01 low - $.60 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3 1, 3, 5, 9, 20 Times 15, 20, 50Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.01 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3 1, 3, 5, 9, 50Times $1.25 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.01 high- 1, 2, 3, 4, 55 1, 3, 5, 9, 50 Times $2.50 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.05low - $.60 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 2 1, 3, 5, 9, 9 Times 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020Winning 90% $0.05 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3 1, 3, 5, 9, 9 Times $1.25 15,20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.05 high - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 4 1, 3, 5, 9,15 Times $2.50 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.10 low - $.60 1, 2,3, 4, 5 4 1, 3, 5, 9, 3 Times 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.10medium - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3 1, 3, 5, 9, 9 Times $1.25 15, 20, 50 BallyV2020 Winning 90% $0.10 high - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 2 1, 3, 5, 9, 9 Times $2.5015, 20, 50 WMS Bluebird, Top Gun Minimum WMS Bluebird Top 92% $0.01low - $.60 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4 1, 5, 9, 15, 50 15 Gun 7, 8, 9 WMSBluebird Top 92% $0.01 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4 1, 5, 9, 15, 50 50Gun $1.25 7, 8, 9 WMS Bluebird Top 92% $0.01 high - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 61, 5, 9, 15, 50 50 Gun $2.50 7, 8, 9 WMS Bluebird Top 92% $0.05 low -$.60 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 3 1, 5, 9, 15, 50 15 Gun 7, 8, 9 WMS Bluebird Top92% $0.05 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4 1, 5, 9, 15, 50 9 Gun $1.25 7, 8,9 WMS Bluebird Top 92% $0.05 high - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 5 1, 5, 9, 15, 5015 Gun $2.50 7, 8, 9 WMS Bluebird Top 92% $0.10 low - $.60 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 5 1, 5, 9, 15, 50 3 Gun 7, 8, 9 WMS Bluebird Top 92% $0.10medium - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4 1, 5, 9, 15, 50 3 Gun $1.25 7, 8, 9 WMSBluebird Top 92% $0.10 high - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 3 9 Gun $2.50 7, 8, 9

Another example of a profile driven change would be minimum wager. Inthis case, an operator wants to control the amount of the minimum wagerthat a customer makes on a gaming machine. One way to control the amountof the minimum wager on a slot title is by setting slot title to have anumber of lines and setting a minimum number of coins to be wager perline.

Here is an example of a lookup table for minimum wager. In this case,only Bally and WMS are show for one of each of their games but othermanufacturers would be added as they are connected to the command andcontrol system.

Real-Time Inventory and Interrogation

Referring to FIG. 16, the command and control server 1602 may use G2S tocommunicate with the gaming machines 1604 and has the capability tointerrogate the gaming machines 1604. From the interrogation of a gamingmachine 1604, the command and control server 1602 may lean many or allof the gaming machine's settings including game theme, currentdenominations, current game volume, current game reel speed, currentwager options and line options, current host settings and almost allother machine settable parameters. The command and control server 1602may request and get these values in real-time.

XML Data Structure—Use of XML for Messages

In one embodiment, a user, or an external system, may specify a profileto modify some or any of a gaming machine's available options, or metaoptions like Minimum wager. A wager profile input file which may be usedto set wager amount can easily be formatted to specify a series of timesand a list of options and values for any options as shown below:

  <!--Showing use for minimum wager /> <ChangeProfile>  <ChangeInstanceStartTime=“MM DD YYYY 6:00am”>   <OptionItem name=“MinBetAmount”,value=“Low”>  </ChangeInstance>  <ChangeInstance StartTime=“MM DD YYYY4:00pm”>   <OptionItem name=“MinBetAmount”, value=“High”> </ChangeInstance> </ChangeProfile> <!--Showing use for game speed andgame volume together* /> <ChangeProfile>  <ChangeInstance StartTime=“MMDD YYYY 6:00am”>   <Optionitem name=“BAL_GameSpeed”, value=“1”>  <OptionItem name=“BAL_GameVolume”, value=“5”>  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstance StartTime=“MM DD YYYY 4:00pm”>   <Optionitemname=“BAL_GameSpeed”, value=“3”>   <OptionItem name=“BAL_GameVolume”,value=“6”>  </ChangeInstance> </ChangeProfile>

When the command and control server 1602 executes the profile, commandand control server 1602 may use a table to resolve what each item meanson a per EGM basis. The table may be generic and may include columns forOptionName, OptionValue, G2S_DeviceClass, G2S_OptionGroup,G2S_OptionItem, and G2SOptionValue.

When the command and control server 1602 creates a job, the command andcontrol server 1602 may look up the OptionItem Name in the table for thegiven EGM's theme, paytable, and denomination. If one or more matchingrows exists, then the option may be mapped to the actual G2S options,and the command and control server 1602 sends the appropriate command(for example MinBetAmount becomes Bal_MinBetPerLine andBal_MinNumberOfLines). If no rows match, the command and control server1602 may still send the command if it happens to match a actualG2SOption for that game. (Like BAL_GameSpeed). If there is still nomatch, then an error may be logged.

In addition, wildcards in the lookup table may be supported, which mayreduce the number of rows. For instance, if the same thing is done forevery pay table, then instead of having rows for each pay table, wewould just put a * in that column.

In some embodiments, a lookup table may include a manufacture column. Inthat case, the lookup table may support meta options that may bedisplayed in the control panel and may allow users to make genericassignments that work across disparate manufacturers. These meta optionsmay be displayed in standard configuration wizards as well as thespecial profile wizard.

  XML Format of Profile Data  <?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8” ?><ChangeProfile name=“Sample MinBet Profile” author=“Haiyang”><ChangeInstance startingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 00:00:00”> <optionItemname=“MinBetAmount” value=“Low” />  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstancestartingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 00:00:00”> <optionItem name=“MinBetAmount”value=“Medium” />  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstancestartingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 00:00:00”> <optionItem name=“MinBetAmount”value=“High” />  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstancestartingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 00:00:00”> <optionItem name=“MinBetAmount”value=“Medium” />  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstancestartingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 00:00:00”> <optionItem name=“MinBetAmount”value=“High” />  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstancestartingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 00:00:00”> <optionItem name=“MinBetAmount”value=“Low” />  </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstancestartingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 21:00:00”> <optionItem name=“BAL_WaveVolume”value=“7” /> <optionitem name=“BAL_LineVolume” value=“7” /> </ChangeInstance> <ChangeInstance startingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 21:00:00”><optionItem name=“BAL_WaveVolume” value=“6” />  </Changelnstance><ChangeInstance startingTime=“YYYY-MM-DD 21:00:00”> <optionItemname=“BAL_WaveVolume” value=“8” />  </ChangeInstance>  </ChangeProfile>

The control and command server 1602 may use XML data in the format aboveto build a visual representation of the profile curve as shown infigures above.

FIG. 15 shows a method 1500 to configure the gaming machines 1604according to one embodiments. Various operations depicted in FIG. 15need not necessarily be performed in the exact order shown. Moreover,some operations can be added, removed, modified, and/or combined.

In one embodiment, the operations represented by the method 1500 can beimplemented by computer-readable instructions encoded on or otherwisestored on a computer-readable medium and executable by a processor. Forexample, some operations of the method 1500 can be implemented insoftware stored in database 1606 of the command and control server 1602,and executable by a processor such as processing unit 1312.

In one embodiment, one or more of the gaming machines 1604 may include aprocessing unit similar to processing unit 1312, a storage unit ormemory similar to system memory 1314, and a bus similar to bus 1316coupling the respective processor and storage unit of the gamingmachine. The storage unit may also include a hard disk drive similar tohard disk drive 1324 for reading from and writing to a hard disk 1326;an optical disk drive similar to an optical disk drive 1328 for readingfrom and writing to removable optical disks similar to optical disks1332; and a magnetic disk drive similar to magnetic disk drive 1330 forreading from and writing to removable magnetic disks similar to magneticdisks 1334. Thus, corresponding operations of the method 1500 that arerelated to the gaming machines 1604, can also be implemented in softwareor other computer-readable instructions stored in the storage unit ofthe gaming machine 1604, and executable by the processor of the gamingmachine 1604.

At a block 1502, the command and control center 1602 receives and storesin the storage unit(s) such as database 1606 profile-drivenconfiguration changes 1608 or other profile-based requests to changeconfiguration settings that are input by the user. As previouslyexplained above, the information specified in the profile-drivenconfiguration changes 1608 may include an identification of particulargaming machines 1604 that are assigned to the requests for configurationchanges, as well as including generalized and/or specific values forconfiguration settings.

At a block 1504, a processor, which may be similar to processing unit1312, of the command and control center 1602 examines the storedprofile(s) to determine whether a configuration change is due. In oneembodiment, the processor of the command and control center 1602includes or is coupled to a scheduler that is adapted to examine thestored profile(s) according to a time schedule, such as a periodicfrequency of hourly, every 12 hours, every 24 hours, or other timeframeconfigurable by the user. The scheduler repeatedly examines the storedprofile(s) according to the time schedule, until a configuration changeis determined to be due at a block 1506.

If the configuration change is determined to be due at the block 1506,the processor of the command and control server 1602 at a block 1508generates a list of gaming machines 1604 that are to receiveconfiguration changes. In one embodiment, the list of gaming machines1604 can be generated from the gaming machines specified in the profile.

At a block 1510, the processor of the command and control server 1602chooses a first gaming machine 1604 from the list. In one embodiment,the command and control server 1602 then interrogates or otherwisequeries that first gaming machine 1604 at a block 1512 for currentspecific values for its configuration settings (e.g., manufacturer,cabinet, game theme, reel speed, current denomination, game volume,wager and line options, etc.). Obtaining the current specific values forconfiguration settings at the block 1512, for each of the gamingmachines 1604, enables the command and control server 1602 to generatean updated inventory of the gaming machines 1604 and their currentconfiguration settings. For instance, certain gaming machines 1604 mayhave been replaced/removed, or may have had their configuration settingsmodified between the time that the profile was created and when aconfiguration change specified in the profile is due. Interrogating thegaming machine(s) 1604 with queries at the block 1512 enables theprocessor of the command and control server 1602 to determine whetherthe proposed configuration settings specified in the profile are stillappropriate, and to make revisions if appropriate.

In one embodiment, the gaming machine(s) 1304 can provide their currentconfiguration settings at the block 1512 independently of a query fromthe command and control server 1602. For instance, rather thanspecifically interrogating the gaming machine(s) 1304, whether via aglobal interrogation or selective individual interrogations, oneembodiment can provide one or more gaming machines 1604 that reporttheir current configuration settings to the command and control server1602 according to a time schedule and/or in response to some conditionbeing met.

At a block 1514, the processor of the command and control server 1602accesses or otherwise identifies one or more lookup tables (such as theTable 2 and Table 3 above) that have entries for the gaming machine1604. At a block 1516, the processor of the command and control server1602 uses the look-up table(s) to match the information specified in theprofile (e.g., the generalized values of the configuration settingsindicated in the profile-driven configuration changes 1608) to specificvalues of current configuration settings. With this use of the look-uptables, the processor of the command and control server 1602 is thusable to provide a translation from the generalized values to specificvalues for configuration settings.

At a block 1518, the command and control server 1602 generates aconfiguration change command and sends the generated command to thegaming machine 1604. In one embodiment, the generated command instructsthe target gaming machine 1604 to change to the new configurationsetting value upon receipt of the command. Thus, the command and controlserver 1602 can send the generated command to the target gaming machine1604 just before the time frame when the change is to take effect,thereby directly controlling the timing of the change. In anotherembodiment, the command and control server 1602 can send the generatedcommand to the target gaming machine 1604 at any suitable length of time(e.g., at a greater lead time) prior to the scheduled configurationchange, so that the target gaming machine 1604 can set itself to run orotherwise perform the configuration change when the change is due.

In some situations, the target gaming machine 1604 may have credits thatare due or otherwise currently engaged in a game with a player, when theconfiguration change command is received. Accordingly at a block 1520for one embodiment, the configuration change is not performedimmediately. Rather, for example, the command and control server 1602can continue to send/re-send the configuration change command to thetarget gaming machine 1604 if the target gaming machine 1604 has creditsthat are due or is otherwise currently engaged in a game with a player,until the gaming machine 1604 is ready to perform the configurationchange at a block 1522.

The operations described above in blocks 1510-1522 are repeated if theprocessor of the command and control server 1602 determines at a block1524 that there are additional gaming machines 1604 in the generatedlist that are scheduled for configuration changes. When there are nosuch other gaming machines 1604 scheduled for configuration changes,then the method 1600 reverts back to the block 1504 to examine thestored profiles for upcoming configuration changes that are coming due.

Meta-Options

Electronic gaming machines 1604 may combine hardware and software todeliver gaming applications to customers. The software may includeoperating system and game software both of which have configurableparameters or options. Each configurable option has a variable name andone or more valid values that can be set; only valid values can be setin the software. Table 4 below includes examples of configurableoptions, valid option values and the option variable name:

Option Software Configurable Valid Option Variable Component OptionValues Name Operating Jackpot Limit 0-5000 Jackpot_Lim System OperatingDownload 0-2,000,000 Idle_Sp_Tran System Transfer Speed Operating BillStacker 0-12,000 B_StackLim System Limit Game Game Volume 0-10 G_VolGame Bet Per Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, BP_Line 10, 25, 50 Game Denomination 1,5, 10, 25, Denom 50, 100, 500, 1000

Typically, available configurable options, valid option values andoption variable names comprise a set that is unique to each gamingmachine manufacturer's operating system and game software. Further, eachof the game themes from a single manufacturer can have a completelydifferent configurable option list with unique option values and optionvariable names so there is a unique set of this data for eachmanufacturer and game combination.

The operation of the gaming machine 1604 may be changed by makingchanges to the configurable options within the permitted or validconfigurable option values. For example, the game volume may be changedto low by changing the G_Vol option variable to 1 or changed to high bychanging the G_Vol option variable to 9. The game volume is controlledby a single configurable option just as the Bill Stacker Limit or wagerPer Line is. Changing those individual configurable options to one ofthe valid option values has an affect on the gaming machine 1604.

In some situations, to efficiently change configurations on a gamingfloor the following issues may need to be overcome:

First, for many gaming floor changes, casino directors might not thinkin terms of absolute values of configuration options; casino directorsmay think in relative terms such as low, medium and high. As an example,casino directors may think of game volume as low, medium and high. On abusy Friday night, casino directors may want the volume on allelectronic gaming machines to be set to high, but casino directors maywant to have the game volume set to low after midnight. Casino directorsmay want to set options like game volume, minimum wager, game speed andother game settings to a subjective or relative value, and the casinodirectors may think of the functioning of gaming machines in relativeterms (fast game, slow game, game volume loud, etc.), even thoughoperational parameters of gaming machines may be set to absolute values.

Second, Casino directors may want to make changes to the floor as awhole, not to individual gaming machines. Casino directors may want toset the entire floor game volume to high with one command. However, aspreviously described, the game floor typically includes of a widevariety of gaming machines 1604 from different manufacturers, and gamingmachines such as 1604 a and 1604 b may be running different game themes.In addition, one manufacturer's valid option values and/or optionvariable names may be inconsistent with another manufacturer's validoption values and/or option variable names, and a manufacturer's validoption values and/or option variable names may be inconsistent acrossdifferent game themes. For example, see Table 5 below.

TABLE 5 look-up table for game volume settings by manufacturer and gamethemes. Software Config- Valid Option Manu- Game Compo- urable OptionVariable facturer Theme nent Option Values Name Bally Blazing 7s GameGame 0-10 G_Vol Volume Bally Bonus 7s Game Game 0-10 G_Vol Volume BallyWinning Game Game 0-10 G_Vol Times Volume Bally Fixin' to Game Game 0-10G_Vol Win Volume IGT Fort Knox Game Game 1-100 GameVol Volume IGT Wheelof Game Game 1-500 GameVol Fortune Volume WMS Top Gun Game Game 0-50Vol_Gm Volume WMS Monopoly Game Game 0-50 Vol_Gm Volume Aris- DoubleGame Game 0-5 Game_Vol_Level tocrat Dolphins Volume Aris- Queen of GameGame 0-10 Game_Vol_Level tocrat the Nile Volume

In one embodiment, the aforementioned issues, among other issues, may beresolved by employing a meta-option. A meta-option is a configurationoption that does not use an absolute option value as the setting butinstead uses a generic or subjective value such as:

-   -   low volume, medium volume, high volume    -   slow reel speed, medium reel speed, fast reel speed    -   low denomination, medium denomination, high denomination    -   small jackpot limit, medium jackpot limit, high jackpot limit    -   low minimum wager, medium minimum wager, high minimum wager    -   Friday night game mix, Saturday night game mix, Sunday night        game mix, Tuesday thru Thursday game mix    -   Volume reduction by 30%    -   Game speed increase by 20%    -   Bet per line increase by 15%    -   Number of lines increase by 30%

In one embodiment, a meta-option may be one way of identifying aconfiguration option(s) change that is associated by business logic to aset of pre-defined configuration option values. Before a meta-optionchange occurs, the meta-option associated to specific configurationoption values is done and is stored in a database such as database 1606in schema. As one example, a meta-option may be a volume change of thegaming machines 1604.

TABLE 6 Meta-option volume look-up. Subjective Option Game ConfigurableVolume Option Variable Manufacturer Theme Option Level Setting NameBally Blazing 7s Game Volume Low 1 G_Vol Bally Blazing 7s Game VolumeMedium 5 G_Vol Bally Blazing 7s Game Volume High 9 G_Vol Bally Bonus 7sGame Volume Low 1 G_Vol Bally Bonus 7s Game Volume Medium 5 G_Vol BallyBonus 7s Game Volume High 9 G_Vol Bally Winning Game Volume Low 1 G_VolTimes Bally Winning Game Volume Medium 5 G_Vol Times Bally Winning GameVolume High 9 G_Vol Times Bally Fixin' to Win Game Volume Low 1 G_VolBally Fixin' to Win Game Volume Medium 5 G_Vol Bally Fixin' to Win GameVolume High 9 G_Vol IGT Fort Knox Game Volume Low 5 GameVol IGT FortKnox Game Volume Medium 50 GameVol IGT Fort Knox Game Volume High 85GameVol IGT Wheel of Game Volume Low 25 GameVol Fortune IGT Wheel ofGame Volume Medium 250 GameVol Fortune IGT Wheel of Game Volume High 400GameVol Fortune WMS Top Gun Game Volume Low 8 Vol_Gm WMS Top Gun GameVolume Medium 20 Vol_Gm WMS Top Gun Game Volume High 45 Vol_Gm WMSMonopoly Game Volume Low 8 Vol_Gm WMS Monopoly Game Volume Medium 20Vol_Gm WMS Monopoly Game Volume High 45 Vol_Gm Aristocrat Double GameVolume Low 1 Game_Vol_Level Dolphins Aristocrat Double Game VolumeMedium 3 Game_Vol_Level Dolphins Aristocrat Double Game Volume High 4Game_Vol_Level Dolphins Aristocrat Queen of the Game Volume Low 2Game_Vol_Level Nile Aristocrat Queen of the Game Volume Medium 6Game_Vol_Level Nile Aristocrat Queen of the Game Volume High 8Game_Vol_Level Nile

Table 6 shows a meta-option volume look-up table. In the meta-optionvolume look-up table, generic or subjective volume settings areassociated with specific valid configuration option values.

In one embodiment, a casino manager may set a meta-option volume changeto set all game volumes to a desired subjective volume level. Thecommand and control server 1602 may use meta-option volume look-uptable, which may be stored in database 1606, to find valid configurationnames and options, e.g., “option variable name” and “option setting,”associated with a subjective volume level for various gaming machines1604.

For example, if the meta-option change sets the volume of the gamingmachines 1604 to low, the command and control server 1602 mayinterrogate the gaming machines 1604 to determine the current floorconfiguration, e.g., number and types of gaming machines, current gamethemes, etc. When the command and control server 1602 interrogates thegaming machine 1604 e, the command and control server 1602 determinesthat the gaming machine 1604 e is an Aristocrat—Queen of the Nile game.The command and control server 1602 may use the meta-option volumelook-up table to determine the valid configuration name for gamingmachine 1604 e is “Game_Vol_Level” and the valid configuration optioncorresponding to a “subjective volume setting” of “low” is “2.” When thecommand and control server 1602 interrogates another gaming machine suchas gaming machine 1604 a, the command and control server 1602 may detectthat gaming machine 1604 a is a Bally gaming machine with a game themeof “Winning Times.” The command and control server 1602 may use themeta-option volume look-up table to determine that the “G_Vol” variableof gaming machine 1604 a should be set to “1.”

Another use of meta-options, among others, is setting a minimum wagerlevel. Setting the minimum wager level may be accomplished by changingthe number of lines and/or the wager per line that define the minimumnumber of credits that can be wagered on a single game play. Ameta-option minimum wager look-up table is constructed and includestypes of gaming machine and game themes. Typically, a casino may havegaming machines from multiple manufacturers, and in that case, themeta-option minimum wager look-up table typically includes every type ofgaming machine at the casino for all of the manufacturers. Table 7 belowis an exemplary meta-option minimum wager look-up table:

Mini- Mini- mum Bet Per mum # Number of Man- Cabi- De- Mini- Bet Per BetPer Line #of of Lines ufac- net Pay nomin- mum Line Line Variable LinesLines Variable turer Type Theme Table ation Bet Options Setting NameOptions Setting Name Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.01 low - 1, 2, 3, 3B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 20 Num_Lines Times $.60 4, 5 9, 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020Winning 90% $0.01 medium - 1, 2, 3, 3 B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 50 Num_LinesTimes $1.25 4, 5 9, 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.01 high - 1,2, 3, 5 B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 50 Num_Lines Times $2.50 4, 5 9, 15, 20, 50Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.05 low - 1, 2, 3, 2 B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 9Num_Lines Times $.60 4, 5 9, 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.05medium - 1, 2, 3, 3 B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 9 Num_Lines Times $1.25 4, 5 9, 15,20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.05 high - 1, 2, 3, 4 B_Lines 1, 3, 5,15 Num_Lines Times $2.50 4, 5 9, 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90%$0.10 low - 1, 2, 3, 4 B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 3 Num_Lines Times $.60 4, 5 9,15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90% $0.10 medium - 1, 2, 3, 3 B_Lines 1,3, 5, 9 Num_Lines Times $1.25 4, 5 9, 15, 20, 50 Bally V2020 Winning 90%$0.10 high - 1, 2, 3, 2 B_Lines 1, 3, 5, 9 Num_Lines Times $2.50 4, 5 9,15, 20, 50 WMN Blue- Top 92% $0.01 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4 Bet_PL 1, 5, 9,50 Number_L bird Gun $1.25 4, 5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top 92%$0.01 high - 1, 2, 3, 6 Bet_PL 1, 5, 9, 50 Number_L bird Gun $2.50 4, 5,6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top 92% $0.05 low - 1, 2, 3, 3 Bet_PL 1, 5,9, 15 Number_L bird Gun $.60 4, 5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top 92%$0.05 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4 Bet_PL 1, 5, 9, 9 Number_L bird Gun $1.25 4,5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top 92% $0.05 high - 1, 2, 3, 5 Bet_PL 1,5, 9, 15 Number_L bird Gun $2.50 4, 5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top92% $0.10 low - 1, 2, 3, 5 Bet_PL 1, 5, 9, 3 Number_L bird Gun $.60 4,5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top 92% $0.10 medium - 1, 2, 3, 4 Bet_PL1, 5, 9, 3 Number_L bird Gun $1.25 4, 5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 WMN Blue- Top92% $0.10 high - 1, 2, 3, 3 Bet_PL 1, 5, 9, 9 Number_L bird Gun $2.50 4,5, 6, 15, 50 7, 8, 9 IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.01 low - 2, 4, 6, 2 Bet 1, 2,4, 1 Lines Knox $.60 8 7, 9, 12, 20 IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.01 medium - 2,4, 6, 4 Bet 1, 2, 4, 2 Lines Knox $1.25 8 7, 9, 12, 20 IGT AVP Fort 94%$0.01 high - 2, 4, 6, 6 Bet 1, 2, 4, 4 Lines Knox $2.50 8 7, 9, 12, 20IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.05 low - 2, 4, 6, 2 Bet 1, 2, 4, 4 Lines Knox $.60 87, 9, 12, 20 IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.05 medium - 2, 4, 6, 2 Bet 1, 2, 4, 7Lines Knox $1.25 8 7, 9, 12, 20 IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.05 high - 2, 4, 6, 4Bet 1, 2, 4, 9 Lines Knox $2.50 8 7, 9, 12, 209 IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.10low - 2, 4, 6, 2 Bet 1, 2, 4, 9 Lines Knox $.60 8 7, 9, 12, 20 IGT AVPFort 94% $0.10 medium - 2,4, 6, 2 Bet 1, 2, 4, 12 Lines Knox $1.25 8 7,9, 12, 20 IGT AVP Fort 94% $0.10 high - 2,4, 6, 2 Bet 1, 2, 4, 20 LinesKnox $2.50 8 7, 9, 12, 20

In the meta-option minimum wager look-up table, generic or subjectiveminimum wager/betting settings are associated with specific validconfiguration option values.

In one embodiment, a casino manager may set a meta-option minimum wagerchange to set all game minimum wagers to a desired subjective minimumwager level. The command and control server 1602 may meta-option minimumwager look-up table, which may be stored in database 1606, to find validconfiguration names and options, e.g., “option variable name” and“option setting,” associated with a subjective minimum wager level,e.g., low minimum bet, medium minimum bet, high minimum bet, for variousgaming machines 1604.

For example, if the meta-option change sets the minimum wager of thegaming machines 1604 to low minimum bet, the command and control server1602 may interrogate the gaming machines 1604 to determine the currentfloor configuration, e.g., number and types of gaming machines, currentgame themes, etc. Based on an interrogation of one of the gamingmachines, the command and control server 1602 may determine that theinterrogated gaming machine is an IGT-Fort Knox-94%-Penny Game. Thecommand and control server 1602 may use the meta-option minimum wagerlook-up table to determine that valid configuration names for the gamingmachine are “Bet” and “Lines,” which have valid configuration optionscorresponding to the low minimum bet setting of “2” and “1,”respectively. When the command and control server 1602 interrogatesanother gaming machine such as gaming machine 1604 b, the command andcontrol server 1602 may detect that gaming machine 1604 b is aBally-Winning Times-90%-Nickel game. The command and control server 1602may use the meta-option minimum wager look-up table to determine thatthe “B_Lines” variable and the “Num_Lines” variable of gaming machine1604 b should be set to “2” and “9,” respectively.

The meta-option solves the issues noted above with traditionalconfiguration options.

First, the meta-option is more intuitive and understandable to the slotfloor director.

Second, the meta-option is one practical way to set an option across adiverse floor with machines that 1) have different valid option valuesand 2) name the option variable in different ways.

Third, the meta-option the setting of floor-wide parameters or globalparameters that are not necessarily defined by one single configurationoption. In one embodiment, a meta-option may be nested into anothermeta-option. For example, a nested meta-option may include a meta-optionvolume change and a meta-option minimum wager change applied globallyand/or across a floor of the casino.

FIG. 17 shows a process 1700 for creating a meta-option.

At 1702, a meta-option is defined. The meta-option is the change thatmay be applied to one or more electronic gaming machines. Examples ofmeta-options are volume level, slot game reel speed, game mix andminimum wager.

At 1704, the meta-option is named or identified for future reference.

At 1706, the meta-option values are established. In some embodiments,the meta-option values may be generic/subjective values. In someembodiments, the meta-option values may be relative values. Examples ofthe meta option values include, but are not limited to, low, medium andhigh or slow or fast or % of current value.

At 1708, an inventory of all possible manufacturer and game themecombination is compiled.

At 1710, configuration options for a gaming machine and game themescombination are compiled into a list/table. For each of theconfiguration options, valid configuration option values and variablenames may also be compiled into the list/table.

At 1710, specific configuration options

are selected to be changed on each electronic gaming machine to achievethe desired change effect. For example, if the meta-option change is toset all volumes to low, the specific configuration option may be gamevolume. If the meta-option change is to set the speed of all slot gamethemes to fast, the specific configuration option may be reel speed. Ifthe meta-option change is to set all minimum wagers to high, thespecific configuration options may be wagers per line and number oflines.

At 1710, a meta-option look-up table that cross-references themeta-option values (e.g. low, medium and high) of the meta-option tovariable names and to valid option values for each manufacturer and gametheme combination.

At 712, the meta-option look-up table is committed to the database forfuture use by an application like a profile driven gaming machineconfigurator.

Referring to FIG. 18, a first table definition schema 1802 is logicallycoupled to a second table definition schema 1804. The first tabledefinition schema 1802 and the second table definition 1806 may be partof a meta-option look-up table stored in database 1606.

The database 1606 may take a variety of forms including, but not limitedto, a structured query language (SQL) database. A database schema ofdatabase 1606 defines a meta-option look-up table.

Download and Configuration Engine for a Gaming System

A gaming environment may include a download and configuration management(DCM) engine. A DCM engine may command and control of a download andconfiguration system. Clients command and control the DCM system byconsuming/using the application programming interface (API) extended bythe DCM engine. This API is exposed to clients via many differentprotocols (UDP, SOAP, TCP, Named Pipes, custom protocols) which are allcallable at the same time. This allows the DCM system to interface withmany different systems, technologies and platforms.

A DCM engine facilitates communication between the G2S Host & DCM systemDatabases, manages the execution of assignments and their status, andcontains most of the system's business logic.

A DCM engine may be a Component of SOA architecture which deliverssolutions to business agility and with flexibility. Because this serviceexists independently of one another as well as of the underlying ITinfrastructure, they can be combined and reused with maximumflexibility.

The functionality of a DCM engine may be made available for access(consumption) by other systems, clients. One goal, among others, of theconsumption process is to deliver new, dynamic applications that enableincreased productivity and enhanced insight into business performance.Users can consume the composed service through a number of avenues,including Web portals, rich clients, various business applications,complex services, or cross-functional business processes.

A DCM engine is well defined by XML messages & invokable Interfaces.Each interaction is independent of each and every other interaction andthe interconnect protocols of the communicating devices (i.e., theinfrastructure components that determine the communication system do notaffect the interfaces). Because interfaces are platform-independent, aclient from any device using any operating system in any language canuse the service.

Referring to FIG. 19, a networked system 1900 may include a download andconfiguration management (DCM) engine (server) 1902 in accordance withone or more embodiments. DCM Engine 1902 may run on a collection oftechnologies such as SOAP & XML. Interactions between a communicatingsystem and the DCM Engine 1902 may be done by XML messages through SOAPprotocol. The DCM Engine 1902 may communicate to a G2S Host 1904 andwith various databases 1906.

Due to the decoupled nature of the networked system 1900, the DCM engine1904 may maintain DCM system state information during processing andsystem interactions. The DCM engine 1904 may maintain DCM system stateinformation by persisting state information using a key/valuedictionary. The DCM engine 1904 includes a DCM engine state managementthat, among other things, functions to persist and maintain the state ofDCM operations even after a communication failure.

The DCM Engine 1902, which may run as a Microsoft Windows service, maybe able to run by itself on a separate server. In some embodiments, theserver running the DCM engine 1902 does not run any G2S Hosts or anyDatabases. In some embodiments, the DCM Engine 1902 may be physicallydisconnected from the G2S Host 1904 and may run on its own processes andmay remotely connect to the G2S host 1904, which may run on its ownprocesses. In that case, the DCM engine 1902 may maintain stateinformation about the status of scheduled DCM assignments. Wheneverthere is a change in the status of a Download, Install or Configurationon a respective gaming machine, the G2S Host 1904 is updated by therespective gaming machine through G2S messages, which are based on theoperations. Thus, the status of the various operations is known via theG2S messages, which may be validated. The G2S messages may be stored toa database by the G2Shosts for persistence (see FIG. 2A). Based on thestatuses of the operations, the messages get updated on a DCM MessageQueue and corresponding databases. From this DCM Message Queue, themessages are read and, as per the various operations. Status updatesthat correspond to the messages read by the DCM message queue are sentto end users 1908 or business process 1910 which invoked them.

Referring to FIG. 20, in the case of a power or communication failure,the DCM Engine 1902 might not be able to communicate with the G2S Host1904. When the power or communication link has been restored, the DCMEngine 1904 receives the status notifications 1912 from the variousdatabases 1906. The DCM engine 1904 may broadcast status updates 1914 toregistered end users 1908 and/or business processes 1910 in order toupdate registered end users 1908 and/or business processes 1910 as tothe status of DCM jobs such as download jobs and configuration jobs.

Among other things, the DCM Engine 1902 processes each message from aDCM Job status message queue. The DCM Engine 1902 identifies arespective Job ID from a respective message and gets assignment or jobbundle information from the database 1906. The DCM Engine 1902 parsesthrough the assignment or job bundle identifying the next assignment orjob to be run, which may depend on the on error conditions of theprevious assignment or job. The DCM engine 1902 includes a Work Flowmodule that then calls a JobCreator passing in a new Job ID that has tobe executed. This cycle is executed for each job in that job-bundle orassignment until all the jobs are executed.

The DCM Engine 1902 offers intelligence that manages multiple clientrequests to ensure that execution of requests are guaranteed, efficient,and prioritized based on a predetermined priority schedule.

Assignment Templates in a Gaming Configuration and Download System.

Casino personal may use an assignment-creator/modifier application forcreating assignment templates for jobs such as jobs for downloads andconfigurations. The assignment-creator/modifier application may bestored on a control station 320 or client 502 or a server such as casinomanagement system server 304. The assignment-creator/modifierapplication may have a client-server architecture.

An assignment template is a reusable Download and Configuration Manager(DCM) assignment describing what G2S download or configuration optionsare to be used.

An assignment template allows the user of the DCM system to savecommonly created assignments as reusable assignment templates for lateruse, which saves time because the user does not need to routinely createcommon assignments.

The assignment-creator/modifier application reduces the complexityassociated with creating assignments with advanced configurations whichrequire additional effort in comparison with common assignments. Anassignment template may apply to any download and configurationassignment for any G2S enabled gaming device regardless of themanufacturer.

The following example demonstrates the use of an Assignment Templatenamed ‘Fast Reel Speed’. The saved Assignment Template has been reopenedand becomes an “assignment under construction”. Now changes can be madebefore it is submitted for approval and executed.

Referring to FIG. 21, a top level window or screen 2100 a of anassignment-creator/modifier graphical user interface (GUI) is shown.Such window or screen 2100 a may be displayed on a display at a controlstation 320 or client 502. Other windows or screens 2100 b-2100 e, shownin FIGS. 22-25, respectively, may also be displayed on a display at acontrol station 320 or client 502.

When an assignment-creator/modifier application first loads, the user(e.g., casino personnel) is presented with a graphical user interfacethat includes an input box, Name, 2102 and an input box, Description,2104. The user provides an assignment name or identifier in the inputbox 902 and provides information describing the assignment templatebeing created using input box 2104. Among other things, the user maydescribe the function of the assignment template and any otherinformation that the user may decide to input.

The assignment-creator/modifier application GUI also includes a savebutton 2106 a, a back button 2108, a next button 2110, and a cancelbutton 2112. The back button 2108 and next button 2110 are used tonavigate between screens 2100 a-2100 e of theassignment-creator/modifier application GUI. In screen 2100 a, the backbutton 2108 is inoperative because screen 2100 is the top level screenof the assignment-creator/modifier application GUI and is shaded tosignify inoperability.

The save button 2106 is used to save a copy of the current assignmenttemplate being created, and the cancel button 2112 causes theassignment-creator/modifier application to quit. If the currentassignment template being created has not yet been saved, theninformation provided by the user is not saved if the cancel button 2112is selected. If the current assignment template has been saved, theninformation provided since the most recent save is not saved if thecancel button 2112 is selected. The assignment-creator/modifierapplication GUI includes a box, Version, 2114 that displays the currentversion of the assignment being created.

Referring to FIG. 22, the lower level window or screen 2100 b of theassignment-creator/modifier graphical user interface (GUI) is shown. Thescreen 2100 b allows a user to choose which options may be set by theassignment template being created. A window 2116 displays selectableoptions 2118 for the assignment template being created. The selectableoptions 2118 may have a tree structure where the branches are expandableand collapsible.

The user selects an option and clicks on an add button 2120. Theselected option 2122 is then displayed in a window 2124. In someembodiments, once an option has been selected, the option is no longerdisplayed in window 2116. The user may de-select any one of the selectedoptions 2122 by using a remove button 2126. The user selects the optionto be de-selected and actuates by for example clicking on the removebutton 2126. After the remove button 2126 has been actuated, the optionfor de-selection is removed from window 2124.

In some embodiments, once an option has been added to window 2124, theoption is no longer displayed in window 2116. Similarly, once an optionhas been removed from window 2124, the option is only displayed inwindow 2116.

Referring to FIG. 23, the lower level window or screen 2100 c of theassignment-creator/modifier graphical user interface (GUI) is shown. Thescreen 2100 c allows a user to change the value for the configurationoptions which remain in the assignment. The user selects one of theselected options 2124 in window 2128. In window 2130, the user sets avalue for the option.

Referring to FIG. 24, the lower level window or screen 2100 d of theassignment-creator/modifier graphical user interface (GUI) is shown. Thescreen 2100 c allows the user review the completed assignment as“applied” in a window 2132. If the user decides to change assignment asapplied, the user may use back button 2108 to navigate to theappropriate screen.

Referring to FIG. 25, the lower level window or screen 2100 e of theassignment-creator/modifier graphical user interface (GUI) is shown. Thescreen 2100 e includes a window 2134 that allows the user to review thecompleted and applied assignment. Typically, a supervisor reviews thecurrent and applied assignment template. The window 2100 e includes afinish button 2136, which is used to save the completed and appliedassignment.

Another novel feature when scheduling an assignment is that one can makethe assignment ‘temporary’. This is a mechanism by which a DCM operatorcan schedule option changes that may be in effect for a limited periodof time. When the time expires, the system automatically runs a job torestore the EGM's options to their previous state. This saves theoperator from having to schedule two jobs, and also relieves them of theburden of knowing what to do to restore the previous state.

One example of the use of the GUI display panel would be to Configurethe attract sound for the Halloween weekend to be ‘spooky’ across manygame themes. When the override expires, the system may restore the soundto each of them correctly without the operator needing to know in eachcase what that value was. This is accomplished in part by keeping trackof each option change the system makes in the DCM engine programming,such as with modules for an Option Item Assigned Value andConfiguration.

Assignment Bundle

FIG. 26A is a flow diagram of a procedure 2600 for creating andimplementing a bundle assignment. Various portions of the procedure 2600may be performed at a control station or client 2602 having a host userinterface (UI), and other portions of the procedure may be performed ata DCM engine 2604, a G2S Host 2606, and a gaming machine or gamingdevice 2608.

At 2610, a user of the client 2602 creates an assignment bundle. Theassignment bundle may be a collection of jobs. In some situations, thevarious jobs in the assignment bundle may be processed sequentially, andin other situations, some or all of the various jobs may be processedconcurrently. In some embodiments, the user may define the sequence inwhich the jobs are processed. In other embodiments, logic of thedownload and configuration management server system 318 may define thesequence in which the jobs are processed.

Normally, the client 2602 is running assignment-bundle software thatpresents an assignment-bundle graphical user interface and which may beintegrated in the control panel 308. When an assignment-bundleapplication first loads, the user (e.g., casino personnel) is presentedwith a graphical user interface for creating an assignment bundle.

Referring to FIG. 26B, a top level window or screen 2650 of anassignment-bundle graphical user interface (GUI) is shown. Such windowor screen 2650 may be displayed on a display at the client 2602 via thehost user interface of the client 2602. A window 2652 shows possiblejobs 2654 that may be included in an assignment bundle such as Download,Install & Various Options to be configured on the EGM(s). A window 2656shows jobs 2658 that have been selected for inclusion in the assignmentbundle. Add button 2660 allows the user to add one of the possible jobs2654 to the number of selected jobs 2658. Remove button 2660 allows theuser to delete one of the selected jobs 2658, and the deleted job isthen listed in the possible jobs 2654. The user may specify an executionsequence for the selected jobs 2658.

The assignment bundle may be applied to multiple gaming devices on thefloor. Workflow may be configured in such way that once the DCM Engine2604 picks up a job from a Queue and the assignment has been processedon the EGM, the DCM Engine 2604 may determine to pick the next job fromthe same Queue to be processed on those EGMS. Typically, the DCM Engine2604 may determine to pick the next job based on the status of thecurrent job.

At 2612, the assignment bundle is submitted for processing at ascheduled time, which is typically after the time the assignment bundlewas submitted, but the scheduled time may be the same as the time atwhich the assignment bundle was submitted. The assignment bundle may besubmitted to the download and configuration management server system318.

At 2614, a job of the assignment bundle is executed. In someembodiments, the DCM engine 2604 executes the jobs in accordance withthe predetermined sequence.

At 2616, the G2S host 2606 sends a message to the gaming device 2608,where the gaming device 2608 is the target of the current or immediatelypreceding job being executed at the DCM engine 2604. For example, thecurrent job being executed by the DCM engine 2604 may be an assignmentto download content to the gaming device 2608, and the G2S host 2606 maysend the message while the job to download content is still beingexecuted at the DCM engine 2606, or the G2S host 2606 may send themessage once the job to download content is no longer being executed atthe DCM engine 2606.

At 2618, the gaming device 2608 applies the current job. For example,the gaming device 2608 may begin downloading content from a contentserver. Similarly, the gaming device 2608 may apply configurationchanges, which causes the gaming device to be reconfigured.

At 2620, the gaming device 2608 returns status information of the gamingdevice 2608. For example, the status information may indicate an amountof content that has been downloaded or current configuration settings,etc.

At 2622, the G2S host 2606 receives a message from the gaming device2608 that includes the status information. The status information isprovided to the DCM engine 2606.

At 2624, the DCM engine 2606 determines whether the current job has beenperformed success or is being performed successfully. If thedetermination is “no,” then the process continues at 2626, where the DCMengine 2604 cancels the current job. In some situations, if one job inan assignment bundle is cancelled, then all subsequent jobs of theassignment bundle that have not yet been executed by the DCM engine 2604are also cancelled. In some situations, if one job in an assignmentbundle is cancelled, then subsequent jobs of the assignment bundle thathave not yet been executed by the DCM engine 2604 may still be executed.The DCM engine 2604 notifies the client 2602 of the failure of the job,and then, at 2628, the client 2602 notifies the user of the failed job.

On the other hand, if the determination at 2624 is “yes,” the DCM engine2604 notifies the client 2602 of the success of the job, and then, at2630, the client 2602 notifies the user of the successful completion ofthe job.

In addition, the determination at 2624 is “yes,” then at 2632, the DCMengine 2604 determines whether there are any more jobs in the assignmentbundle. If the determination is “no,” then the DCM engine 2604 notifiesthe client 2602 of the success of the assignment bundle, and then, at2634, the client 2602 notifies the user of the successful completion ofthe assignment bundle.

On the other hand, if the determination at 2632 is “no,” the processcontinues at 2614, where the DCM engine 2604 begins execution of a jobof the assignment bundle that has not yet been executed.

User Authorization System

Referring to FIG. 27, a user-authorization (Authweb) system 2700 isshown and which may be a Service Oriented security system. Thearchitecture of the Authweb system 2700 follows Service OrientedArchitecture (SOA), which offers the advantage of being interoperablewith various systems and technologies.

The Authweb system 2700 includes a web server 2702 such as an internetinformation server and a security store 2704 that is communicativelycoupled to the web server 2702. The web server 2702 hosts auser-authorization web service 2706 and caches user security credentialsin a memory for current user security sessions 2708.

The security store 2704 stores user security credentials for users ofthe Authweb system 2700. Among other things, the security store 2704provides requested user security credentials to the web server 2702. Thesecurity store 2704 may also determine whether a logon request is validbased at least on information provided in the logon request.

The security store 2704 may take a variety of forms including one ormore servers running a version of Microsoft Windows operating system,one or more databases, one or more servers running a version of UNIXoperating system or Linux operating system, etc. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 27, the security store 2704 includes one or more servers runninga version of Microsoft Windows operating system, which comprise aWindows server domain, and the web server 2702 communicates with theWindows server domain via lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP).

The web server 2702 is communicatively coupled to a DCM engine 2710 anda control station or computing device or the like running an applicationsuch as a control panel 2712, which may take the form of a Bally controlpanel. Communications between the control panel 2712 and theuser-authorization web service 2706 may be via a communication protocolsuch as hypertext transfer protocol over secure socket layer (HTTPS), asmay be the communications between the DCM engine 2710 and theuser-authorization web service 2706.

A user may use the control panel 2712 to log into a system and/or theDCM engine 2710. The user-authorization web service 2706 may be agateway to the system and/or the DCM engine 2710. The user-authorizationweb service 2706 receives login information from the control panel 2712are retrieves a security credential that corresponds to the logininformation. The retrieved security credential is cached in a memory ofthe web server 2702. Upon successfully logging in, a security session2708 is established at the user-authorization web service 2706. Fromtime-to-time, the user-authorization web service 2706 may use the cachedsecurity credential and may maintain the session of the control panel2712 and/or create a new session.

The Client or Control Panel

Among other things, the client or control panel 2712 may do thefollowing:

-   -   1. Defines SoapHeader attribute using “UserAuthHeader”, which        may be applied to XML web method to process    -   2. Defines a public attribute—“UserAuthHeader”, which contains        “UserToken” and “UserName” properties that may be updated by        “AuthWeb” during the process. All of properties of        “UserAuthHeader” may be checked before the web method is        executed for Soap Header validation    -   3. Assigns operation permission to each web method based on        Role-based access policy defined in Authorization store. Before        the web method is called, the web method needs to send its        operation permission to UserAuthWeb to match the users'        permission so as to decide if user has proper rights to run the        called web method. The checking process is executed by        UserAuthWeb based on users' token, users' operation, and        application name.

The AuthWeb or User-Authorization Web Service

Among other things, the AuthWeb or user-authorization web service 2706may do the following:

-   -   1. Check operation permissions, which are defined by an        authorization store, that are sent by client applications to        determine if user has proper rights to perform a secured task.    -   2. Check client application name, users' token, and users'        operation.    -   3. Get users' session from Http runtime cache if user if running        there,    -   4. Check users' session on Logon Credential, which consists of        users' name, application name, authority name, user password,        terminal name attributes    -   5. Check users' session on Logon Lease, which consists of Logon        Token, session minutes, password expiration time attributes    -   6. Retrieve specific user account information from active        directory    -   7. Retrieve user account list being defined in active directory    -   8. Create a new user account inside active directory    -   9. Reset and change user password inside active directory    -   10. Enable and disable specific user account inside active        directory    -   11. Lock and unlock specific user account inside active        directory    -   12. Add user account to a specific user group    -   13. Remove user account from a specific user group    -   14. Add or delete a computer from active directory organization        unit    -   15. Retrieve operation definitions from authorization store

The Interaction

-   -   1. Client web application is using “UserAuthHeader” attribute as        Soap Header to define web methods. This attributes contains user        logon information that may be updated by AuthWeb using session        current runtime cache.    -   2. AuthWeb retrieves information from both Active Directory and        Authorization Store.    -   3. AuthWeb compares user session information on logon credential        and logon lease to make sure if current user has enough rights        and permissions to run requested secured operations being        defined by authorization store policy.

The User Authorization System offers a single role based authorizationsecurity solution for multiple systems, platforms, and technologies.

Referring to FIG. 28, a logon process 2802 is shown. A clientapplication 2804 such as a Bally control panel provides logoncredentials 2806 such as a user-name and password to auser-authorization web service 2808. The user-authorization web service2808 sends a security query 2810 to a security store 2812. The securityquery may include information indicative of the logon credentials and/ormay include the security credentials themselves.

The security store 2812 sends a security response 2814 to theuser-authorization web service 2808. The security response 2814 maycarry security credentials and/or information indicative of whetherallow the application 2804 to logon. In some embodiments, the securitystore 2812 may determine whether a logon request from the application2804 is valid based at least on information carried by the securityquery 2810. For example, the security store 2812 may compare securitycredentials carried by the security query 2810 with valid securitycredentials stored in the security store. If the security store 2812determines that the logon request is valid, the security store 2812 mayinclude a user security credential for a user account that is associatedwith the logon credentials in the security response 2814. If thesecurity store 2812 determines that the logon request is invalid, thesecurity store 2812 may include information indicative of the invalidityof the logon request in the security response 2814. In some embodiments,if the security store 2812 determines that the logon request is invalid,the security store 2812 will not include user security credentials inthe security response 2814, and the absence of the user securitycredential is an indicator that the logon request is invalid.

Based at least in part on the security response 2814, theuser-authorization web service 2808 may create a user security session2816 and provide security session information 2818 to the clientapplication 2804. The security response 2814 may include a user securitycredential that is associated with a user account that matches the logoncredentials 2808. In some embodiments, the user security session 2816may expire after a period of time, and the security session information2818 may include a token or information indicative of when the usersecurity session 2816 will expire.

The client application 2804 may create a logon lease 2820. If the logonlease 2820 expires, then the client application 2804 may be logged out.

FIG. 28 also shows a process 2822 to renew the security lease 2820.Before the logon lease 2820 expires, the client application 2804 sendssecurity session information 2824 to the user-authorization web service2808. In some embodiments, the user-authorization web service 2808 sendsa security query 2826 to the security store 2812, which returns asecurity response 2828. In some embodiments, the user-authorization webservice 2808 may have cached security response 2814. Based at least inpart on the security response 2828 (or security response 2814), theuser-authorization web service 2808 may create or renew a user securitysession 2830 and provide security session information 2832 to the clientapplication 2804. The security session information 2832 may include atoken or information indicative of when the renewed or newly createduser security session 2830 will expire. The client application 2804 maycreate a new logon lease 2834 or renew the prior logon lease based atleast on the security session information.

FIG. 28 also shows a process 2836 to verify security access. The clientapplication 2804 sends security credentials 2838 to theuser-authorization web service 2808. The user-authorization web service2808 sends a security query 2840 to the security store 2812, whichreturns a security response 2842. The security response 2842 may includea user access list, which may define access levels granted to the userof the client application 2804. The user-authorization web service 2808may provide user access list 2844 to the client application 2804. Theclient application 2804 may create verify operations requested by theuser via the user access list 2844.

Referring to FIG. 29, an example block diagram of a scheduler service2900 is shown. The scheduler service 2900 includes a presentation layer2902, a business logic layer 2904, a data access layer 2906, and a datatier 2908. The presentation layer 2902 includes an application 2910 suchas a control panel or Bally control panel. The business logic layer 2904includes a scheduler 2912. The data access layer 2906 includes ascheduler web service 2914 and an activity web server 2916. The datatier 2908 includes a core database 2918 and a scheduler database 2920.

The scheduler web service 2914 communicates with the application 2910,the scheduler 2912, the activity web server 2916, the core database 2918and the scheduler database 2920. Among other things, the scheduler webservice 2914 updates schedule information in the scheduler database 2920to schedule a service. The activity web server 2916 is a gateway toother systems. The activity web server 2916 initiates a service based atleast on the schedule information in the scheduler database 2916.

The Scheduler (Scheduler Service) may be implemented as an executableprogram. There are two types of Scheduling: Download Scheduling andConfig Scheduling.

Configuration assignments may be run in order by schedule type:Permanent, Permanent with start date, Re-occurring Override, One TimeOverride. Within a schedule type, the assignment with the earlier startdate may be initiated first. Within matching start dates, assignmentshaving static collections may be initiated before dynamic; if stilltied, those assignments with earlier create dates may be initiatedfirst. Configuration assignments of permanent and permanent with startdate may only contain static collections.

Download Scheduling gets the start date that download process begins. Itmay take an indeterminate amount of time for the downloaded package tobe ready to be installed on a given EGM. Also, to avoid downloadconflict, if multiple download assignments exist for the same moduletype on an EGM, the assignment with the latest creation date takesprecedence.

The Scheduler may use the Schedule database.

An example Scheduler Composition may include:

Subcomponent Description Error Handlers Process and gracefully handleexceptions Logging Output of event and diagnostics

Example Interactions may include:

Scheduler listens to Schedule database

Scheduler interacts with Schedule Web service

The Web Service may use a Windows® Server version 2000 or 2003 (herebyincorporated by reference) with the following Windows® componentsrunning:

-   -   .net Framework version 2.0    -   Internet Information Server (IIS)

Processing—The Scheduler Service may query the Schedule database forjobs that are scheduled to be run. The Scheduler may initiate theprocessing of the jobs by notifying the GUI Download Web Service or theGUI Configuration Web Service.

Interface/Exports—The Scheduler Service may consume the Activity WebService to log its processing events. It also interacts with theSchedule SQL database with ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) commands.

Referring to FIG. 30, an example block diagram of a user interfacedownload Web service 3000 is shown.

The download Web service 3000 includes a presentation layer 3002, abusiness logic layer 3004, a data access layer 3006, and a data tier3008. The presentation layer 3002 includes an application 3010 such as acontrol panel or Bally control panel. The business logic layer 3004includes an option configuration handler 3012. The data access layer2906 includes a configuration web service 3014 and an activity webserver 3016. The data tier 3008 includes a core database 3018 and aconfiguration database 3020.

The configuration web service 3014 communicates with the application3010, the option configuration handler 3012, the activity web server3016, the core database 3018 and the configuration database 3020.

Classification—Web Service

Definition—The purpose of this Web Service is to expose Web Methods toconsuming components to allow the interaction with the Downloaddatabase. The data access logic required for the BCP to interact withthe Download database may be contained within the Download Web Service.

The GUI Download Web Service may responsible for interacting with theData Tier for those components that are consuming its exposed methods.

The BCP may consume this Web Service and utilize its Web Methods tocreate and read necessary Download data in the database.

The intent is for the GUI Download Web Service to be used explicitly bythe BCP as communication layer with the Download database.

Example Constraints may include:

-   -   Consuming components may need to communicate via the Simple        Object Access Protocol (SOAP) in order to consume the Web        Service    -   The Web Service may publish a Web Service Description Language        (WSDL) to describe the Web service, the message format and        protocol details.    -   The Web Service may return its requested results in the form of        a Serialized DataSet.

An example Composition may include:

Subcomponent Description SOAP Proxy Communication Data Access Processrequests made by consuming components by Handlers communicating with thedatabase with ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) logic Error Handlers Processand gracefully handle exceptions Logging Output of event and diagnostics

Example Interactions may include:

The GUI Download Web Service may interact specifically with the ControlPanel (BCP) via Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

The GUI Download Web Service may interact with the Download SQL databasewith ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) logic.

The Web Service may require a Windows® Server version 2000 or 2003 withthe following Windows components running:

.net Framework version 2.0

Internet Information Server (IIS)

Processing—The GUI Download Web Service may process requests made byconsuming components. The requests are made by the consuming componentcalling the GUI Download Web Services exposed Web Methods. Asuccessfully request is dependent upon the consuming component calling aWeb Method by supply the appropriate query parameters as dictated by theWeb Service Description Language (WSDL) file. The Web Service processesthe request by executing its embedded Business Logic while loggingexceptions and events. The resulting output is returned to the consumingcomponent.

Interface/Exports

The GUI Download Web Service may consume the Activity Web Service to logits processing events. It also interacts with the Download SQL databasewith ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) commands. Its capabilities are exposedas Web Methods which are accessed via the Simple Object Access Protocol(SOAP).

While the example embodiments have been described with relation to agaming environment, it will be appreciated that the above concepts canalso be used in various non-gaming environments. For example, suchrewards may be used in conjunction with purchasing products, e.g.,gasoline or groceries, associated with vending machines, used withmobile devices or any other form of electronic communications.Accordingly, the disclosure should not be limited strictly to gaming.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, uses specificnomenclature and formula to provide a thorough understanding of theinvention. It should be apparent to those of skill in the art that thespecific details are not required in order to practice the invention.The embodiments have been chosen and described to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application, therebyenabling others of skill in the art to utilize the invention, andvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. Thus, the foregoing disclosure is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed, and those of skill in the art recognize that manymodifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, including butnot limited to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/987,338, filedNov. 12, 2007, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employconcepts of the various patents, applications and publications toprovide yet further embodiments.

The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what isdescribed in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limitthe embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Although specificembodiments of and examples are described herein for illustrativepurposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized bythose skilled in the relevant art.

For instance, the foregoing detailed description has set forth variousembodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of blockdiagrams, schematics, and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams,schematics, and examples contain one or more functions and/oroperations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that eachfunction and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, orexamples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a widerange of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combinationthereof. In one embodiment, the present subject matter may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodimentsdisclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implementedin standard integrated circuits, as one or more computer programsrunning on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs runningon one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on oneor more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers) as one or more programsrunning on one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors), as firmware,or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing thecircuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware wouldbe well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure.

In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that themechanisms of taught herein are capable of being distributed as aprogram product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrativeembodiment applies equally regardless of the particular type of signalbearing media used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples ofsignal bearing media include, but are not limited to, the following:recordable type media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs,digital tape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such asdigital and analog communication links using TDM or IP basedcommunication links (e.g., packet links).

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. To the extent that they are not inconsistent withthe specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents,U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreignpatents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publicationsreferred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application DataSheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspectsof the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems,circuits and concepts of the various patents, applications andpublications to provide yet further embodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assignment validator for processing anassignment that modifies a gaming machine comprising: at least oneprocessor; at least one computer readable storage medium; and anassignment validation module that is stored in the at least one computerreadable storage medium and that is configured, when executed by the atleast one processor, to: receive a first assignment to modify a gamingmachine; determine a likelihood of success for a successful execution ofthe first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignmentbased at least on current state information by the assignment validationmodule being configured, when executed by the at least one processor, toat least: determine whether a second assignment to modify the gamingmachine is scheduled; and determine whether the second assignment, ifany, conflicts with the first assignment; and provide a notification ofthe likelihood of success at a time that is prior to an execution timeof the first assignment.
 2. The assignment validator of claim 1 whereinthe assignment validation module is further configured to: determinethat the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment based atleast in part on when the second assignment to modify the gaming machineis scheduled.
 3. The assignment validator of claim 1 wherein theassignment validation module is further configured to: estimate acompletion time for when the first assignment and the second assignment,if any, are completed; determine whether the estimated completion timeis no later than a scheduled implementation time of the gaming machine,wherein the gaming machine is scheduled to implement modifications basedon the first assignment and the second assignment, if any, by thescheduled implementation time; and determine that the first assignmentand the second assignment conflict in response to determining that theestimated completion time is later than the scheduled implementationtime.
 4. The assignment validator of claim 1 wherein the assignmentvalidation module is further configured to determine whether the secondassignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment by: estimating astate of the gaming machine at a time when the second assignment iscompleted; and determining whether the estimated state of the gamingmachine is a valid state for successful completion of the firstassignment.
 5. The assignment validator of claim 1 wherein theassignment validation module is further configured to determine whetherthe second assignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment by:estimating a state of the gaming machine at a time when the firstassignment is completed; and determining whether the estimated state ofthe gaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of thesecond assignment.
 6. The assignment validator of claim 1, comprising: adisplay device that displays the notification of the likelihood ofsuccess.
 7. A computer implemented method of processing an assignmentthat modifies a gaming machine, the method comprising: at a time that isprior to an execution time, receiving, by a computer processor of anassignment processing machine, a first assignment to modify a gamingmachine; determining, by the computer processor of the assignmentprocessing machine, a likelihood of success for a successful executionof the first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignmentbased at least on current state information by at least: determining, bythe computer processor of the assignment processing machine, whether asecond assignment to modify the gaming machine is scheduled; anddetermining, by the computer processor of the assignment processingmachine, whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the firstassignment; and providing, by the computer processor of an assignmentprocessing machine, a notification of the likelihood of success.
 8. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 7, comprising: determining, by thecomputer processor of the assignment processing machine, that the secondassignment conflicts with the first assignment based at least in partwhen the second assignment is scheduled.
 9. The computer implementedmethod of claim 7, comprising: estimating, by the computer processor ofthe assignment processing machine, a completion time for when the firstassignment and the second assignment, if any, are completed;determining, by the computer processor of the assignment processingmachine, whether the estimated completion time is no later than ascheduled implementation time of the gaming machine, wherein the gamingmachine is scheduled to implement modifications based on the firstassignment and the second assignment, if any, at the scheduledimplementation time; and determining, by the computer processor of theassignment processing machine, that the first assignment and the secondassignment conflict in response to determining that the estimatedcompletion time is later than the scheduled implementation time.
 10. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the determining whetherthe second assignment conflicts with the first assignment includes:estimating, by the computer processor of the assignment processingmachine, a state of the gaming machine at a time when the secondassignment is completed; and determining, by the computer processor ofthe assignment processing machine, whether the estimated state of thegaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of the firstassignment.
 11. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein thedetermining whether the second assignment conflicts with the firstassignment includes: estimating, by the computer processor of theassignment processing machine, a state of the gaming machine at a timewhen the first assignment is completed; and determining, by the computerprocessor of the assignment processing machine, whether the estimatedstate of the gaming machine is a valid state for successful completionof the second assignment.
 12. The method of claim 7 wherein theassignment processing machine is also the gaming machine.